NI to reunite with Ukraine five years on from heroics

NORTHERN Ireland are set to travel to Ukraine for a friendly on June 3, five years on from an unforgettable encounter between the sides at the Euro 2016 finals.

Back then, goalscorers Gareth Mcauley and Niall Mcginn and the rest of the Northern Ireland team became Kings of Lyon as they beat Ukraine in France to claim a famous victory which helped Michael O’neill’s men reach the knockout stages.

There won’t be as much riding on the fixture this time, though Ukraine boss Andriy Shevchenko will use the game in preparation for the delayed Euro 2020 finals.

Ukrainian Football Association president Andriy Pavelko has confirmed that Ian Baraclough’s men will play the friendly in one of two match slots during the summer international window.

Northern Ireland’s big matches in 2021 will be the World Cup qualifiers which begin on March 25 away to Italy.

Before then, Northern Ireland will have a new Under-17 and Under-19 manager in place after interviews took place on Tuesday.

Baraclough, his assistant manager Jimmy Nicholl and the IFA’S Chief Operating Officer Sean Murphy were on the panel to decide who takes over from Stephen Frail, who left for a coaching role with Dundee United.

Former Oldham manager and ex-portadown, Derry City and York defender Darren Kelly, Diarmuid O’carroll, previously a player with Cliftonville and Crusaders, ex-cliftonville and Sligo boss Gerard Lyttle and former Lincoln and Doncaster defender John Schofield were among the contenders.

An IFA source suggested yesterday that it was unlikely there would be an announcement about the position this week.