Overall, the Northern Ireland senior men’s team had an excellent 2024.
Michael O’Neill’s youthful squad showed up well against more experienced teams and enjoyed a fruitful UEFA Nations League campaign.
And they had a belter of a result against Bulgaria at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park which had the players, fans and pundits buzzing.
The 2-0 victory over Denmark towards the end of 2023 not only provided a welcome morale-booster following a difficult UEFA Euro 2024 qualification campaign, it was also a glimpse of things to come in 2024.
First up this year were away friendlies in March against two teams bound for UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany – Romania and Scotland.
The Arena Nationala in Bucharest was the venue when Northern Ireland grabbed a deserved 1-1 draw against the Romanians. Striker Jamie Reid scored on his debut.
Then it was off to Hampden Park where a Conor Bradley goal gave O’Neill’s team a 1-0 win over the Scots.
In June Northern Ireland had a training camp in Spain ahead of a friendly against the Spanish and before a further challenge match, against Andorra, which was also played on Spanish soil.
The big blip during 2024 arguably came when Spain showed their ruthless side at the Son Moix Stadium in Palma.
Caolan Boyd-Munce made his senior debut and just over a minute into the game his brilliantly executed free-kick was met by Daniel Ballard and he headed the ball into the top corner to make it 1-0. The 900-strong Northern Ireland contingent among 22,000 in the stands loved it.
However, that early goal poked the bear and Spain subsequently turned on the style, winning the game 5-1 thanks to two goals from Pedri and one apiece from captain Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Oyarzabal.
It was not all Spain, however. Isaac Price had a couple of chances, while Shea Charles had a decent effort pushed away by Spanish keeper Unai Simon and towards the end Ballard headed the ball inches over the top.
It was Spain’s send-off to the Euros in Germany where they were crowned European champions.
The game would also be the last time that central defender and captain Jonny Evans pulled on a green shirt.
At the end of August he announced his retirement from international football.
The 36-year-old, who earned 107 senior caps, said it had been a privilege to play for his country for almost two decades. He made his debut against Spain in the famous 3-2 win in Belfast back in September 2006.
Game two in Spain for Northern Ireland was on the mainland against Andorra.
Conor Bradley scored both goals as Northern Ireland secured a 2-0 friendly win over Andorra in Murcia.
Bradley capped a fine individual display with two first half goals at Estadio Nueva Condomina.
Paul Smyth tormented the Andorrans, while Callum Marshall, Jamal Lewis, Brodie Spencer and Dale Taylor all had efforts on goal as Northern Ireland went in search of a third either side of half-time.
In the second half Aaron Donnelly made his senior international debut among a raft of substitutions.
O’Neill used the matches as preparation for Northern Ireland’s fourth UEFA Nations League campaign, which began with a home game against Luxembourg in early September.
They controlled the UNL League C Group 3 encounter in Belfast and deservedly ran out 2-0 winners.
First half goals from defenders Paddy McNair and Ballard secured the victory against the top seeds in the group in front of 17,213 fans at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park.
Game two in the group was a much tougher assignment – away to Bulgaria at Stadion Hristo Botev in Plovdiv.
In sultry conditions in early September, on a lumpy pitch, O’Neill’s team were left frustrated after Bulgaria scored just before the break and defended strongly from then on to claim all three points.
A physically strong and rugged Bulgaria bossed the first half, hitting the woodwork twice, while Northern Ireland had plenty of the ball in the second half, although they could not fashion a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Bulgaria took the lead on 40 minutes. Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s clearance towards Ballard fell short and Aleksandar Kolev nipped in to slip the ball to the back post where captain Kiril Despodov tucked it away from four yards.
Belarus provided the opposition on matchday three the following month – and it was another frustrating experience for Northern Ireland.
O’Neill’s side had the bulk of the chances but could not find the net. They had 61% possession in the game and 15 attempts on goal compared to Belarus’ seven at the ZTE Arena in the city of Zalaegerszeg in western Hungary.
Peacock-Farrell was unavailable due to injury, so O’Neill gave a senior debut to goalkeeper Pierce Charles from the start, while striker Lee Bonis made his debut in the game. And there were also first senior call-ups for Motherwell defender Kofi Balmer and Mansfield Town goalkeeper Christy Pym.
The game had to be played behind closed doors as a result of UEFA sanctions on Belarus due to the eastern European country’s support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
October, however, also brought a victory over Bulgaria which will live long in the memory.
Northern Ireland produced an exquisite display of attacking football as they demolished the Bulgarians at the National Stadium.
An Isaac Price hat-trick, an own goal and a strike from substitute Josh Magennis secured an excellent 5-0 win.
Not surprisingly the 17,891 fans inside the stadium - minus around 200 Bulgarian supporters - were bouncing as Northern Ireland turned on the style in the UNL encounter.
The emphatic 5-0 victory was only the fourth time in Northern Ireland’s history that they have managed to score five goals in a full international fixture. The other occasions were: 5-3 v Austria (h) – ECQ (Euro qualifier) – 15 Nov 1995; 5-0 v Faroe Islands (n) – ECQ – 11 Sep 1991; 5-0 v Cyprus (h) - ECQ - 21 May 1971.
The win, coupled with Belarus and Luxembourg drawing one apiece in Hungary, also meant Northern Ireland topped C3 on seven points after four games.
The aim in the final two games of the campaign was to secure top spot and promotion to League B for the next edition of the competition.
Northern Ireland produced a solid display against Belarus in mid-November to stay top of the group.
Second half goals from Ballard and Dion Charles (penalty) earned O’Neill’s team a deserved 2-0 victory.
Going into the match the Belarusians were unbeaten in their opening four fixtures in the group - and had conceded only one goal.
But following a first half in which they had to be patient, Northern Ireland turned the screw after the break and netted the goals that secured three points.
Towards the end of the game defender Ruairi McConville made his senior debut from the bench as Northern Ireland soaked up some late pressure.
Northern Ireland only needed a draw against Luxembourg in their final C3 game to top the group and earn promotion to League B for the fifth edition of the Nations League. And they duly obliged with a 2-2 draw.
Over 1000 Northern Ireland fans were among the 6870 in attendance at the Stade de Luxembourg last month.
O’Neill’s side were in control for long spells. They went two up and were looking comfortable before two goals in quick succession by the home side earned both teams a point.
Central defender Ruairi McConville came in for his first start. Midfielder Ethan Galbraith, earning his fourth cap, also started a game for the first time. And midfielder Justin Devenny made his senior debut late on.
Northern Ireland’s goals were scored by Price and Bradley. Seid Korac and Gerson Rodrigues netted for the home side.
Northern Ireland topped the C3 group with 11 points from six games, while Bulgaria finished second on nine points. Belarus were third with seven points and Luxembourg registered three points.
