Northern Ireland finish on a positive note in Prague

Czech Republic 0 Northen Ireland 0:NORTHERN IRELAND manager Nigel Worthington had reasons to be cheerful as his side finished their World Cup qualifying campaign with a creditable draw at the Synot Tip Stadium last night.

Keeping a clean sheet against the Czechs was one positive, the other was an impressive display by Niall McGinn, making his first start. The Celtic midfielder kept the home side on their toes with his pace and movement and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.

Even though they will not progress in the competition, Northern Ireland are taking steps forward and rediscovered some pride after the shattering defeat by Slovakia last time around.

They were quick out of the blocks on a bitterly cold night in Prague and Damien Johnson was floored by Marek Jankulovski in the third minute. Grant McCann delivered an inswinging free-kick and skipper Aaron Hughes, winning his 70th cap, headed wide. McGinn showed a good turn of pace down the left in the 15th minute but his cross was cleared.

The province were knocking the ball about well and using McGinn and Johnson on the flanks whenever possible. The Czechs awoke from their slumber in the 34th minute when Tomas Necid got on the end of a cross from David Jarolim but Stephen Craigan made a block.

Play switched down the other end and Steven Davis squandered a good opportunity in the 39th minute. Johnson supplied the cross but Davis’ touch inside the six-yard area let him down and the ball trickled past the post. This was a good spell by Northern Ireland and McGinn nearly made the breakthrough in the 41st minute. He latched on to a good through-ball from Davis and clipped in a half-volley. Petr Cech was slow to react but managed to turn the ball around the post at the last minute.

The Czechs responded two minutes later and Johnson showed his defensive side by clearing Tomas Sivok’s header off the line following a corner from Tomas Rosicky. McGinn then skipped past two defenders in the 49th minute. He tried to place his effort beyond Cech but put too much pace on the ball and saw it go wide.

The Czechs hit back four minutes later and goalkeeper Maik Taylor had to look alert to turn over a corner from Jaroslav Plasil.

Northern Ireland were enjoying plenty of possession, however, and Chris Baird released McCann in the 62nd minute. He tried his luck from distance but failed to trouble Cech. Then McGinn set up David Healy who strode forward only to send a weak shot into the arms of Cech. Warren Feeney was drafted into the action after 68 minutes, replacing Healy, who finished the campaign with just one goal.

The Czechs almost won it in the 85th minute but Jankulovski’s shot was parried the ball to safety by Taylor.

CZECH REPUBLIC:Cech, Pospech, Hubnik, Sivok, Jankulovski, Jarolim, Hubschman, Rosicky, Plasil, Baros, Necid. Subs: Kinsky, Grygera, Hlousek, Rozehnal, Stajner, Papadopulos, Pudil.

NORTHERN IRELAND:Taylor, McAuley, McGivern, Hughes, Craigan, Johnson, Baird, McGinn, McCann, Davis, Healy. Subs: Tuffey, Mannus, Coates, Feeney, O'Connor, Kirk, McCourt.

Referee:Laurent Duhamel (France)