Michael O'Neill had spent the build-up to Northern Ireland's Nations League outing against Ukraine playing down memories of their famous win at Euro 2016. His focus was firmly on what was to come rather than reflect on the past. If a stunning 3-0 victory on Friday night was anything to go by, it's going to be a pretty exciting future indeed.
His starting team had an average age of just 22, which was the youngest on record for Northern Ireland since World War Two. Oxford's Ciaron Brown, the only player over the age of 25 to start the game in Trnava, Slovakia, was in the right place to open the scoring in the ninth minute from Ruairi McConville's knockdown. O'Neill handed a first start to 19-year-old Kieran Morrison, and his superb cross led to Isaac Price doubling the lead, before Brown's header evaded goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk in bizarre circumstances with 30 minutes left.
While the victory may not be quite as memorable as the 2-0 'Kings of Lyon' success 10 years ago at the Euros, it was extremely impressive. To put it into context - and never mind the manner of the performance - only Sweden and France have beaten Ukraine in the past 12 months. Northern Ireland can now be added to that list.
Brown scores two as superb Northern Ireland stun Ukraine Inside Northern Ireland's football conveyor belt Brown's two goals were just reward for a player who has been quietly impressive for far longer than this campaign, and he was part of a back-five which stood out in what was a third consecutive clean sheet. Brodie Spencer and Terry Devlin were drafted in at the full-back positions and both impressed, but Brown's centre-back partners McConville and Tom Atcheson really shone. Norwich City defender McConville, 21, commanded his area well and, as well as an assist for Brown, he also allowed the ball to trickle over the line when he could have touched home for the third goal instead of his team-mate.
Atcheson, himself only 20 and playing for Blackburn Rovers in the Championship, made his Northern Ireland debut in Wales in March, but showed composure beyond his years. O'Neill said both players were "terrific" as he told BBC Sport: "They have no ceiling, to be honest. "They are both playing in the Championship at the minute but they are ready to go to the next level.
"They will make mistakes at times and we've put a lot on them in terms of the physicality. The two of them were brilliant." O'Neill was also delighted for Brown, who said he had "really grown" into a senior role in the absence of injured Sunderland defender Dan Ballard. "Three 90 minutes at this level is tough," said O'Neill of the 28-year-old.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
