12MATCH RUSSIAN ROULETTE

Northern Ireland need Mourneview win and a shock at Shamrock to dodge a Regions Cup place bullet

THE respective homes of Mid-ulster neighbours Glenavon and Portadown will be the venues tomorrow night that will decide the fate of Harry Mcconkey’s Regions Cup hopes.

The three-game Group 1 qualfying tournament is down to its final matches with Mcconkey’s boys needing to not only win in Lurgan, but hope that the group’s bottom team do them a favour at Shamrock Park. The Northern Ireland Eastern Region team currently sit on three points – Sunday’s 1-0 win against Macedonia at Windsor Park, courtesy of a Dylan Wilson strike, coming on the back of an opening defeat against Portuguese representatives Braga last Thursday.

However, along with Portugal, Northern Ireland’s opponents tomorrow night South Region Chayka have four points, although the Russian side have a better plus three goal difference.

All this means that Northern Ireland have to see off a strong Russian select and at the same time hope that winless Macedonia somehow find what it takes to stop Braga.

The Portuguese came from behind in Sunday’s game, which also took place at the Nation Stadium, having conceded a penalty after only six minutes of play which was dispatched by the Russian skipper Lednev.

A Rocha corner late in the second period then got Braga out of jail when their captain Ribeiro headed home an equaliser.

Both of tomorrow night’s games kick off a 7.30pm.

GREEN & WHITE ARMY Harry Mcconkey and the Northern Ireland Regions Cup squad which is competing in the qualifying group

MATCHWINNER Dylan Wilson after his goal saw off Macedonia at Windsor Park on Sunday

ALL SQUAREThe goalscorers after the 1-1 draw between Russia and Portugal at Windsor