Simone Magill: What a moment for women’s football in Northern Ireland

The achievement comes just 17 years after the team was reformed in 2004

Northern Ireland Women have qualified for their first major tournament (Irish FA handout)

Northern Ireland’s players were left pinching themselves after they secured their first trip to a major finals with a 2-0 Women’s Euro 2022 qualifying play-off victory over Ukraine on Tuesday night.

Goals from captain Marissa Callaghan and substitute Nadene Caldwell finished off the job as Northern Ireland secured a 4-1 aggregate victory and a place in the nation’s sporting history books against the odds.