Response to NI win mixed

Northern Ireland responded in its customary bewildering manner to the North's stunning victory over England at Windsor Park on Wednesday.

There were a variety of reactions that reflected how especially in Northern Ireland sport and politics must grimly mix. People of a moderate unionist persuasion celebrated the North's one-nil victory and ignored or felt some mild commiseration for the Republic.

For those of a stauncher nature their cups floweth over: not only had the North triumphed but the Republic was vanquished by the French.

Moderate nationalists lamented the Lansdowne defeat and generously applauded Northern Ireland. Those of a deeper green tinge were dealt a double dose of despair.

These were the reactions on chat shows such as BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme, a weathervane of Northern opinion, where among the generous-hearted could also be heard the "Anybody but England", the "Anybody but Northern Ireland", and the "Anybody but the Republic" misanthropes.

Some of this was reflected in yesterday's newspaper coverage. The Sinn Fein-supporting Daily Ireland featured a picture of France defeating the Republic on its front page, with its back pages coverage more focused on the Lansdowne game.

The more moderately nationalist Irish News had a photograph of David Healy celebrating his goal against England and accorded about equal coverage on the sports pages to the two Ireland games.

No reticence on the unionist News Letter. Its page one screamed "GOAL!" superimposed on a picture of an ecstatic David Healy, and underneath "see pages 2, 3, 4, 8, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56."

Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey and party sports spokesman Michael McGimpsey congratulated the North on a "spectacular and well deserved win".

They hoped the result would "breathe life and soul into the game" in Northern Ireland, which just might happen. They also hoped it would bring the "community together". Now that might be more difficult.