McIlroy's men make a point

Failure is no stranger to the Northern Ireland football team. But can it ever have received the reception it did on Saturday at Windsor Park? Applauded and cheered off the pitch, it was as if Sammy McIlroy had engineered a 1-0 win rather than suffered a 1-0 defeat, one that makes qualification for the World Cup, already a distant prospect, look far-fetched.

But this game was never going to be just about the result. The political overtone meant this was going to be about Northern Ireland rediscovering pride, self-belief and re-stating its identity. Then there was the football.

That the team managed this in purely playing terms after the dismal defeat by Norway three-and-a-half weeks ago was the appropriate partner to an uplifting day. Losing to a poor goal from a side as accomplished as the Czech Republic is no mean feat. And Northern Ireland deserved an equaliser for the consistency of their second-half efforts.

That it did not come was down to some upright goalkeeping from Pavel Srnicek, some upright defending from Roman Tyce and Tomas Votova, and some uprights. Keith Gillespie hit one of those with a powerful header five minutes after half-time; substitute Phil Gray then hit another three minutes from the end. The Czech manager, Josef Chovanec, said that he could not have argued had the Irish won a point.

Gillespie, after nine months in the wilderness at Blackburn Rovers, had his best game in a green shirt for years.

Neil Lennon, in spite of the circumstances, and Michael Hughes, in spite of his early recovery from a broken leg, also played with vigour and patience. But there were negatives. Aaron Hughes and Roy Carroll were at fault for the goal and were made aware of that by captain Jim Magilton.

Attempting to beat a team nearly 90 places higher in FIFA's rankings, Hughes allowed Pavel Nedved to turn onto Jan Koller's fortunate touch after just 11 minutes - Gerry Taggart's absence noted immediately. Nedved shot instantly from 18 yards. The shot was far from ferocious and close to Carroll, but the Wigan Athletic goalkeeper could manage only the weakest of touches.

With young David Healy forced to work mostly on his own upfront, the Irish were struggling to make an impression, but once Nedved had rocked Carroll with a fierce drive seconds after the interval, the home side, mainly via Gillespie, began to move.

It was from a Healy cross that Gillespie rose to put a header against Srnicek's left-hand post, and while it would be overstating the case to say Northern Ireland dominated thereafter - Colin Murdock cleared a Karel Poborsky shot off the line - the persistence of McIlroy's men seemed about to be rewarded in the closing minutes when Gray, on for Stuart Elliott, seized upon a scuff from Magilton 10 yards out.

Gray's shot was true but Srnicek made some contact; the ball deflected onto the crossbar. It came straight back to Gray, whose control was good. His second shot, however, was booted off the line by Tyce. The point disappeared. The World Cup vanished.

As McIlroy was to say proudly, other points had been made. He was not wrong. The new contract he wants should be delivered at once.

NORTHERN IRELAND: Carroll, Aaron Hughes, Murdock, Mark Williams, Griffin, Elliott (Gray 76), Magilton, Lennon, Gillespie, Michael Hughes, Healy (Ferguson 76). Subs Not Used: Taylor, Kennedy, Johnson, McCarthy, Nolan. Booked: Lennon, Michael Hughes.

CZECH REPUBLIC: Srnicek, Fukal, Votava, Ujfalusi, Tyce, Bejbl, Nedved, Poborsky, Rosicky (Jarosik 79), Smicer (Nemec 90), Koller (Lokvenc 71). Subs Not Used: Sluncik, Maier, Kuka, Novotny. Booked: Fukal, Tyce, Bejbl. Goals: Nedved 11.

Referee: M Gonzalez (Spain).