Northern Ireland wrapped up their UEFA Regions' Cup qualifying campaign with victory over Georgia this afternoon in Switzerland.
Harry McConkey's side, represented by the Western Region, edged past Football School Bridge in the Intermediary Round Group 4 clash at Nyon's Centre Sportif de Colovray but it wasn't enough to see them through to the next stage of the competition following earlier narrow defeats to Munster (Republic of Ireland) and Vaud from the host nation.
McConkey made four changes to the starting XI, bringing in Gareth Muldoon, Aaron McLaughlin, Robert McLean and Jonathan McLean to replace Dylan Doherty, Niall Fielding, Tiarnan Boorman and Ruairi Boorman. Nathan Sherry retained the captaincy.
Northern Ireland started brightly with Darren Robb seeing an effort blocked, followed a few minutes after that with John Butcher having a shot saved by keeper George Nachkebia on top of a number of set pieces.
At the other end Muldoon was forced into a save to deny Levani Botkoveli while Darragh Byrne was similarly denied as play switched back to the Georgian half.
The deadlock was broken on 33 minutes with what turned out to be the match winner after Aaron McLaughlin provided the assist for Byrne to send the ball beyond the keeper.
The ever dangerous Byrne threatened again moments after that, and once more before the end of the first half, as Northern Ireland looked to make the most of their dominance.
But their task was made more difficult just before the break when striker John Butcher was dismissed after being cautioned twice in quick succession.
Georgia tried to make their extra man count early in the second half with Nika Zibzibadze and Vazha Gegeshidze both having efforts on goal, but Northern Ireland hit back through Ethan Nethery and Ruairi Boorman as McConkey's charges began to find their feet again.
As time wore on, however, Georgia kept pushing forward but Gegeshidze, Zibzibadze and Lukas Bogveli all failed to find the target.
They might have been made pay for those misses with seven minutes remaining after Byrne looked to double his tally for the afternoon only to be thwarted by Nachkebia.
Further Georgian efforts followed in the closing moments, but the Northern Ireland defence proved to be impenetrable although there was almost a late, dramatic twist in the fourth minute of added time when Zibzibadze did find a way through only to see his effort connect with the woodwork.
That would have been cruel on a Northern Ireland side the performed superbly in the first half, and then displayed dogged resilience after the break.
Georgia: George Nachkebia, Onise Kamladze, Nodar Jobinashvili, Irakli Msakhuradze, Nika Jolokhava, Goga Koridze, Lasha Silakadze, Archil Kelikhashvili, Giorgi Chkhaidze, Levani Botkoveli, Nika Zibzibadze
Substitutes: (used) Vazha Gegeshidze, Lukas Bogveli, Giorgi Tevzadze; (unused) Levani Rukhadze, Luka Gvinjilia, Irakli Chirikashvili
Northern Ireland: Gareth Muldoon, Aaron McLaughlin, Nathan Sherry, Robert McLean, Tiarnan Campbell, Darren Robb, Reece Byrne, Jonathan McLean, Darragh Byrne, Ethan Nethery, John Butcher
Substitutes: (used) Ruairi Boorman, Niall Fielding, Nick Palmer, Gary McFadden, Matthew Callaghan; (unused) Dylan Doherty, Tiarnan Boorman
