Q Radio Sport
Northern Ireland women booked a Euro play-off place last night by thrashing the Faroe Islands 5-1.
Rachel Furness struck twice with the other goals coming from Chloe McCarron and the McGuinness sisters - Kirsty and Caitlin, who became the first siblings to score in the same game for the GAWA.
All that after the visitors had taken a shock lead in the opening minutes with their first goal of the qualifying campaign.
FT #Euro2022 Qualifier@NorthernIreland 5
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) December 1, 2020
Faroe Islands 1
History for Kenny Shiels & #GAWA girls
Goals @Furney1988 x2 @chlomccarron_ @KirstyMcG11 & @CaitlinMcGuinn4
1st ever play-off booked in spring, next target a 1st major finals Euro 2022 England#DareToDream 👏 Scenes👇 pic.twitter.com/TIuUueiZhd
The Seaview victory gives Kenny Shiels' side the chance to qualify for a first major tournament.
🎥 Northern Ireland boss Kenny Shiels reacts to his side's 'watershed moment' - clinching a Euro play-off, against the odds. He says they'll "work and work" in their bid to become the 1st NI women's team to make a major tournament:#GAWA#GameChangersNIpic.twitter.com/Ek3opKbUtd
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) December 1, 2020
They needed four wins from their last four games to make the cut - confounding the critics.
🎥 Goalscorers @Furney1988 and @chlomccarron_ dedicate victory to fans and injured teammate @demi_ni - and have a special message for anyone who wrote off Northern Ireland in Euro qualifying!#GAWA @ElecIrelandNI #GameChangersNI pic.twitter.com/V207y8tgHx
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) December 1, 2020
The play-off is due to be staged in the spring with the winners going to the 2022 European Championships in England.
Imagine the party if the GAWA girls get through:
🎥 Celebrations in full swing on historic night for the women's game here - #GAWA pic.twitter.com/TtPgPZqTdu
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) December 1, 2020
Northern Ireland: Jackie Burns, Julie Nelson, Ashley Hutton, Sarah McFadden, Chloe McCarron, Marissa Callaghan (captain), Nadene Caldwell, Kirsty McGuinness, Emily Wilson, Rachel Furness, Lauren Wade. Substitutes: (used) Caitlin McGuinness, Samantha Kelly, Joely Andrews, Toni Leigh Finnegan, Danielle Maxwell; (unused) Becky Flaherty, Lauren Perry, Abbie Magee, Ciara Watling, Kerry Beattie, Rebecca McKenna.
In a rearranged Danske Bank Premiership match on Tuesday night, Ballymena beat Carrick 2-0 at the Showgrounds.
The ToalsBet.Com County Antrim Shield final is to be staged on Wednesday with Glentoran taking on Larne at Seaview.
FT: #DanskeBankPrem@BallymenaUnited 2
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) December 1, 2020
McElroy pen, Balmer@CarrickRangers 0
Sky Blues move up to 5th
Carrick 2nd from bottom
Next up: @larnefc & @Glentoran head-to-head https://t.co/nArmv7uLNr @CoAntrimFA Shield Final Seaview Wednesday 7.45pm pic.twitter.com/K0wxHbxF3Y