The rash of enthusiasm that accompanied Sammy McIlroy's appointment in succession to the woeful regime of Lawrie McMenemy was quelled by a large amount of water and a small dose of reality at sodden Windsor Park last night.
Two away victories in February and March over Malta and Luxembourg had provoked an outbreak of Northern Irish optimism centred on McIlroy and the young Manchester United reserve David Healy, but it was revealed as premature by a Hungary team which, despite its reduced reputation these days, is still a league above the likes of Malta.
When Ferenc Horvath of the Belgian club Genk drilled in the game's only goal in the 62nd minute it was Hungary's first successful strike since last September. In that time they have been beaten 3-0 at home by Australia and drawn 0-0 with Liechtenstein. It puts Northern Ireland's performance in perspective.
As for Healy, after scoring twice against Luxembourg and once in Malta, he was fortunate to stay on the pitch last night. Having missed a couple of opportunities, Healy took out his frustration on Hungary's keeper Gabor Kiraly, launching himself into Kiraly after a Michael Hughes shot had been spilled. A sterner referee than Wales's Ceri Richards would have sent Healy off. Reality had bitten painfully by then anyway.
This being the return of a Belfast native after the misguided selection of McMenemy, an Englishman, McIlroy was given as warm a welcome as possible by a crowd depleted by the weather. Sadly the reception was a highlight of a dire beginning in which there were numerous errors in basic control and passing. Only Wimbledon's Michael Hughes and Leicester City's Neil Lennon showed the necessary quality at this level.
To say the first half was dull was a bit like saying some rain fell on Belfast yesterday. Yet even that understatement somehow overplayed an opening in which neither goalkeeper made a save until the 40th minute. Then Maik Taylor comfortably smothered a diagonal shot from the Hungarian right wing-back Csaba Feher.
In the context of the game the effort sparked a flurry of chances. Well, one. Lennon initiated it with a sharp pass to Danny Sonner and his back-heel left Healy through on goal. The 20 year-old, who had put a weak shot wide of the Hungarian woodwork when well-placed in the tenth minute, hit the target this time. Kiraly saved with his feet.
Northern Ireland's passing and movement had improved steadily at least but there was a lack of a focal point in attack. The Irish were in a constant state of rebuilding therefore, although considering their physical advantage, the Hungarians were hardly imposing themselves. Then Feher decided to do just that, cutting in from the right and slicing the Irish defence open with a neat flick to Horvath. Horvath rounded Watford's Mark Williams, on for Gerry Taggart, injured on his return to the side as its captain, and slotted the ball low past Taylor.
The match petered out after that, all rhythm being dissipated by a series of substitutions. Not unlike the optimism.
Northern Ireland: Taylor, Griffin (Johnson 73), Nolan, A Hughes, Taggart (M Williams 57), Sonner (Robinson 85), Gillespie (Murdock 76), Lennon, Kirk (Coote 57), Healy, M Hughes. Subs Not Used: Fettis, Mulryne. Booked: Healy.
Hungary: Kiraly, Hrutka, C Feher, Matyus, V Sebok, Lendvai, Peto (Korsas 56), Dardai (Halmai 46), Horvath (Hamar 88), Illis, Preisinger (Herczeg 76). Subs Not Used: Dragoner, Lisztes, Vezera. Booked: C Feher, V Sebok. Goal: Horvath 61.
Referee: C Richards (Wales).
