Healy's double gives new manager the perfect start

David Healy showed just why Alex Ferguson thinks so highly of him when he scored twice on his senior debut to give Sammy McIlroy a winning start to his reign as Northern Ireland manager.

Healy proved he could well be the answer to Northern Ireland's long-standing scoring problems with two poacher's goals in either half in this friendly in the Stade Josy Barthel.

But then the 20-year-old Manchester United starlet, who has just been rewarded with a four-year contract at Old Trafford, is well used to making an impact and he netted after just three minutes of his under-21 debut against Moldova in November 1998.

McIlroy will be delighted with Healy and overall he can be satisfied with his first match in charge of his country.

McIlroy's new broom has swept clean and out has gone Iain Dowie, while in has come Healy and promising talents Roy Carroll and Damien Johnson who made only their third senior starts.

James Quinn almost gave McIlroy a dream start when he nipped in behind the Luxembourg defence to connect with a left-wing cross only for his close-range effort to be blocked.

Quinn's strike partner, Healy, was showing some nice touches and he was unlucky not to win a penalty when he went down under a challenge from Jean Vanek in the 17th minute.

However there was no denying Healy four minutes later when he fired the Irish ahead with his first senior goal.

Damien Johnson swung over a ball from the right to Healy who, headed the ball on to Gillespie at the back post.

Rather than shoot Gillespie played the ball back to Healy who tucked it home past Besic.

Healy's strike meant he was the first Irish player to score on his debut since Phil Mulryne against Belgium three years ago.

Northern Ireland were in total control against the part-timers, who have not won a game since September 1995, only for the match to turn on its head just before half-time.

Luxembourg had not threatened the Irish goal, but then in the 41st minute Gillespie conceded a dubious free-kick 25 yards out and Manuel Cardoni fired home past a stunned Roy Carroll.

Three minutes into the second half Healy restored Northern Ireland's lead, although much of the credit for the goal must go to Mark Williams who squared the ball for Healy to knock it into the inviting goal.

There was still time for the Irish to seal victory with a third and Healy set up Quinn for only his second international goal three minutes from time.

Then in stoppage time, Michael Hughes cracked a 25yard free-kick against the post to round off a satisfying night for McIlroy.

Luxembourg: Besic, Vanek, Schaack, Birsens (Alverdi 5), Strasser, Saibene, F. Deville, Holtz (Huss 75), Braun (Zaritski 60), Cardoni, Schnieder (Christophe 46). Subs Not Used: Gillet, L. Deville, Reiter, Posing, Theis, Amodio. Booked: F. Deville. Goals: Cardoni 41.

Northern Ireland: Carroll (Taylor 75), Nolan, Williams (Murdock 66), Griffin (McGiggon 89), A. Hughes, Gillespie (Robinson 88), Lomas, Magilton (Sonner 75), Johnson (Hughes 78), Healy, J. Quinn (Coote 87). Booked: Lomas. Goals: Healy 21, 48, J Quinn 87.

Referee: M Schuttengruber (Austria).