Three and easy for Northern Ireland amid anti-Casement chants

Northern Ireland eased to a 3-0 home win over lowly San Marino at Windsor Park this afternoon, courtesy of goals from Paul Smyth, Josh Magennis and Conor McMenamin

In truth, Northern Ireland were on a hiding to nothing in this match – win and it was totally expected, anything other than that and serious questions would have been asked.

As it was, they had to settle for just three goals, with two more disallowed – and while the win is welcome, O’Neill will be sightly disappointed his side didn’t really ram home their authority after a flying start.

O’Neill made a host of changes to his starting line-up, with Conor Hazard coming in to replace goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell, as well as starts for Smyth, Dale Taylor and the returning Jamal Lewis.

It didn’t take long for a section of the Windsor Park crowd to break out an anti-Casement Park chant, showcasing their opposition to the West Belfast GAA stadium being nominated as a hot ground for the 2028 Euros.

Even more odd was the piping in of a ‘Green and White Army’ chant over the stadium’s PA system midway through the first half.

As for the match itself, Northern Ireland almost opened the scoring in the third minute through Taylor.

Smyth did well on the right to fire the ball in and Taylor's effort at the near post whistled just over the crossbar

But it took less than two more minutes for the home side to go in front with a fantastic finish from that man Smyth.

Lewis was played in down the left and the full-back clipped the ball to the back post where Smyth came charging in to produce a superb scissor kick volley from 8 yards that found the roof of the net.

They then doubled their lead in the eleventh minute.

This time opening goalscorer Smyth was the provider as his low ball in from the right was met by Josh Magennis and the big striker turned it home from just outside the six-yard box.

The livewire Smyth then thought he had given Northern a three-goal lead just after the half-hour mark.

He produced a stunning volleyed lob from Jonny Evans' pinpoint diagonal ball, but after an overly-lengthy VAR review, it was ruled out for offside.

Then on 36 minutes, Dale Taylor had the ball in the net, but again it was ruled out for offside – this time a much more clear-cut decision for the officials.

The second period – probably as expected – was a much less lively affair, with the visitors trying their best to make some form of headway against a Northern Ireland team who looked very comfortable.

Dale Taylor lifted the ball wide of the post when clean through just before the hour, before two of the three subs made on 60 minutes almost made it three soon after their introduction.

Isaac Price showed nifty footwork to glide into the box, with his deflected shot beaten out the San Marino keeper, with Callum Marshall’s diving header on the rebound stopped as well.

The tie petered out somewhat in the final 25 minutes, with Slovenia on Tuesday night very much in mind as O’Neill made a host of second half changes.

One of those did grab the third however, as former Glentoran man Conor McMenamin scored his first goal for Northern Ireland, when he was on hand to slot home after Conor Washington’s shot was palmed into his path by the keeper.

MATCH STATS

Northern Ireland: Hazard, Hume, Lewis (Spencer 79), Evans (C) (Price 62), Ballard, McNair, S Charles, Thompson, Smyth (Marshall 62), Magennis (Washington 62), Taylor (McMenamin 79)

Subs not used: Peacock-Farrell (GK), Southwood (GK), Saville, D Charles, Kennedy, Lyons, Lane

San Marino: E Benedettini, Battistini, Franciosi (D’Addario H-T), Rossie, Di Maio, Fabbri, Capicchioni (Ceccaroli 76), Golinucci, Lazzari (Lunadei 88), Vitaioli (C) (Mularoni 60), Nanni

Subs not used: Simoncini (GK), S Benedettini (GK), Cevoli, Golinucci, Tomassini, Zafferani, Magi, Pancotti,

Referee: Bram Van Driessche (Belgium)