Chris Baird hails Rory McIlroy’s ‘fantastic’ support

Rory McIlroy will not be the only Northern Irishman flying his country’s flag at a major sporting event this summer, a fact that defender Chris Baird believes epitomises the football team’s achievements.

The titles accrued by golfer McIlroy, currently number three in the world, and fellow major-winning compatriots Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke have provided Northern Ireland with plenty of sporting success in recent years.

Patriotic supporters had to toast glory on the links, though, as their football team had failed to reach a major international tournament for 30 years until Michael O’Neill’s team qualified for Euro 2016 next month.