Northern lights shining bright as they defeat Ukraine

A lifetime of after-dinner speeches, ribbon cutting and TV appearances await goalscorers Gareth Macauley and Niall McGinn after Northern Ireland’s heroics last night, but not before Michael O’Neill’s side pushes on for a crack at Euro 2016’s knockout stages.

The three points harvested last night may prove to be enough to book passage, though a draw against Germany next Tuesday would all but guarantee their place in the last 16 on the back of the country’s first win at a major tournament since Spain were shocked in Valencia 34 years ago.

“We have given ourselves a chance,” said O’Neill. “There are lots of permutations. We knew we were in as tough a group as there is and we wanted to make sure we could go into the last game with something to play for.”