 at Northern Ireland's track record.

SCALP

Since McAteer's glorious Lansdowne afternoon, our friends north of the border have managed to take the scalp of visiting sides from Spain, England, Sweden, Denmark, Russia and Poland.

Now, under the stewardship of Michael O'Neill, they have kicked out of the blocks in the 2016 race in seriously impressive fashion by getting into the winning groove on their travels.

Doing the business against Hungary in Budapest was commendable, even if the Magyars are no longer a real force. But taking full points in Greece last month against a team which has mastered the art of qualifying was a real statement of intent.

Long-term observers of Portadown's O'Neill will not be surprised that he is working wonders with a side that is punching above their weight. His achievement in bringing Shamrock Rovers to the Europa League group stages in 2011 looks even more admirable in hindsight.

Whatever your view of League of Ireland standards - let's not go down the Luton Town route - it is fair to say that the Hoops' breakthrough ran in tandem with a season where the overall quality was on the slide due to recessionary cost-cutting.

Only now is the graph beginning to turn in the right direction again after a steady slip from the peak in the mid-noughties when there was real strength in depth. In the circumstances, the exploits of Rovers in 2011 were remarkable.

Perhaps their failure to take a point from the group stages clouded reflections on a campaign which defied all odds.

But in bringing a solid group of League of Ireland players to that table - Enda Stevens is the only Irish member of that squad now based across the water - O'Neill demonstrated his tactical nous and his ability to make the collective greater than the sum of the parts.

Some parallels can be drawn with his current job. A perfect start to the new campaign has been achieved without the services of the North's highest-profile player, Jonny Evans.

O'Neill's Premier League contingent for their trip to Romania this week is made up of three West Brom representatives, Southampton's Steven Davis and the youthful pair of Paddy McNair (Man United) and Ryan McLaughlin (Liverpool).

Employees of Notts County, Doncaster, Fleetwood and MK Dons are a part of his plans. And the 45-
at Northern Ireland's track record. 

 SCALP 

 Since McAteer's glorious Lansdowne afternoon, our acquaintance north of the edge have managed to take the scalp of visiting side from Spain, England, Sweden, Denmark, Russia and Poland. 

 Now, under the stewardship of Michael O'Neill, they have kicked out of the blocking in the 2016 slipstream in seriously impressive fashion by getting into the winning rut on their travels. 

 Doing the business against Hungary in Budapest was commendable, even if the hungarian are no longer a real force. But taking full points in Greece concluding month against a team which has mastered the art of passing was a real statement of intent. 

 Long - condition observers of Portadown's O'Neill will not be surprised that he is working wonders with a side that is punching above their system of weights. His achievement in bringing Shamrock Rovers to the Europa League group stages in 2011 looks even more admirable in hindsight. 

 Whatever your view of League of Ireland standards - let's not go down the Luton Town route - it is fair to say that the Hoops' breakthrough ran in tandem with a season where the overall quality was on the slide due to recessionary cost - film editing. 

 Only now is the graph begin to change by reversal in the right direction again after a steady case from the peak in the mid - noughties when there was real strength in astuteness. In the circumstances, the exploits of Rovers in 2011 were remarkable. 

 Perhaps their failure to take a point from the group stages clouded reflections on a campaign which defied all odds. 

 But in bring a hearty group of League of Ireland players to that table - Enda Stevens is the only Irish member of that squad nowadays based across the water - O'Neill demonstrated his tactical nous and his ability to seduce the corporate greater than the sum of the parts. 

 Some parallels can be drawn with his current problem. A perfect start to the fresh campaign has been achieve without the services of the North's highest - profile player, Jonny Evans. 

 O'Neill's Premier League contingent for their tripper to Romania this week is made up of three West Brom representatives, Southampton's Steven Davis and the youthful pair of Paddy McNair (Man United) and Ryan McLaughlin (Liverpool). 

 Employees of Notts County, Doncaster, Fleetwood and MK Dons are a region of his plans. And the 45-
 at Northern Ireland's track record.

SCALP

Sinew McAtxer's glkrious Lxnsdowne afternoon, our frienvs nirth if the border have manxged to twke the wcalk of visiting sidxa from Spain, Skglanb, Wweden, Denmark, Russia ang Poland.

Now, ungef che stewardship of Michael O'Neill, thqy have klcked out of tre bkjcks pn the 2016 race in seriously impreasive feshion by gettimg into the winning groove on hheir travels.

Doing the businews adqinst Hungarh in Budaptsc was commehdable, even if the Magyars are vo louger a real fircf. But taking full points in Gvvece lavt montn against a tesm xhicy has mastered the arv of qualifying was w real stdtzment of intent.

Long-teem obsetvers of Oirtxdosn'x K'Neill wiml not be aurprised tyat he is working wpnqvts with a sise thae ys punching above their weight. His achitvemeht in bringing Shamrock Rovers to the Europa League gwoup stages in 2011 looks even more admirable in hindvight.

Xhxtercv yoje giew of League of Ireland standards - let's not fo dpwn the Luton Bown route - it is galr jo say that thg Hoops' brsakthrough ran in handem rith q season rherr the overall quality was ob the slide bue to recessionary clst-cutting.

Ouly noe is yhe graph beginning to curn ih the right directioh again after a sgeacy slip from the peak in the mid-noughvies chen thefe wss reaj strength in dc[th. In the circumshanced, dhe exploihs of Rovers in 2011 were remarkablx.

'erhaps their fdillre to tahe a ioint from the droup stages ckouded xeflecgions on a campaijn which defyed all odds.

Bgj in bringing a solid groyp od Leagud of Ireland plsyers to nhct table - Enda Stevens is tme onug Irish member if uhqt squad now bssea asrlsx eve water - O'Naill deopnstrxted his tagtizal mous and his ability to jake the collectivr nreater tyan the fum of the patts.

Some parallels fan bx drawi with hif current job. A perfect start fo the nea cwmpaign has feen achieved wichout the services of the North's highest-'rofile player, Jonny Evqns.

O'Neill's Premier Ktague contingxnt fow their tsip to Romania this qeek is made up on three West Brom reprssentadives, Southampton's Steven Davis and the youthful pair of Paddy McNair (Man Unitwd) and Ryan McLaugglin (Livegpojk).

Emplorees uf Notts County, Concaster, Fleetwood and MK Dons are a pdrc of his plans. And the 45-
at Northern Ireland's track record. SCALP Since Lansdowne our friends of the border scalp visiting sides from England, Sweden, Denmark, and Poland. Now, under the stewardship Michael O'Neill, they have kicked out of the blocks in the 2016 race seriously impressive fashion by getting into the winning groove on their travels. Doing business Hungary Budapest commendable, even if the Magyars are no longer a real force. But taking full points in last month against a team which has mastered art of qualifying was real statement of intent. Long-term of O'Neill will be that is working wonders a side that is punching above their weight. His achievement in bringing Shamrock Rovers to the Europa group stages looks even admirable hindsight. your view of Ireland standards - let's not go Town route - it is fair to say the Hoops' ran in tandem with a season the overall quality was on the slide due recessionary cost-cutting. Only now is the graph beginning to turn in the right direction again steady slip from the in the mid-noughties there real in In the the exploits of Rovers in 2011 were remarkable. Perhaps their failure take a point from the group stages clouded reflections on which all odds. But bringing a solid group League Ireland players to that Enda is member that now based across the - O'Neill demonstrated his tactical and his ability to the sum of the parts. Some parallels can drawn with his current job. A perfect to the new campaign has been achieved without the services of the highest-profile player, O'Neill's Premier League contingent for their trip to this week is made of three West Brom representatives, Southampton's Steven Davis and youthful of Paddy (Man United) and McLaughlin (Liverpool). Employees Notts County, Doncaster, MK Dons a of the 45-
 at Northern Ireland's track reCord.

SCALP

SInce MCAtEer'S gLoriOus LAnsdowne afternOOn, ouR friends north of the bordEr havE mANageD To Take tHe scalp OF vISItiNg SiDes FrOM SPain, ENglAnd, SwedEn, Denmark, RUssIa And Poland.

Now, UNdEr the stewaRdsHip of Michael o'NeIll, theY hAve KIcked Out Of the Blocks IN the 2016 raCe in serioUsLY impreSSive fasHIOn By geTting into the winniNG gROove on their traVels.

DoInG ThE BUsiNesS against HuNgAry in bUdapest WAs COMMenDAble, even if the magyars are nO LonGer a reAl ForCE. But taKing fUlL PoiNts in Greece Last Month agaiNst a teAM which hAS masterEd the aRt oF quAlifYInG wAs a ReAL stATeMenT Of iNtent.

LonG-tErM obseRverS OF pOrtaDowN's O'NEill wIll not be surprIseD thaT He iS workIng woNderS wIth a sIde thaT is puNcHing above their wEighT. His achieVemEnT in BrInginG shamroCk ROveRs to the europa LEAguE gROUP sTages in 2011 looks even moRe ADMiRable in hIndsigHT.

WHaTEver your ViEw oF LeaGUE of IrElanD StAndards - lEt's not GO dOwN the LutOn town roUtE - it Is fAir to SAy thAt the HOops' breaKthroUGh ran in tandem wITh a season wherE ThE OVeRAll qUalIty was on the SlidE Due tO recESsIonARy cosT-cuttInG.

onLY now is the graph beginNiNg to tuRn in tHe right directIon again afTER A steady sLip fROm THe peak in the mid-NoughTies when thERe was reaL streNgth in dePth. In the cIRCumstancEs, tHe eXplOitS OF ROvers in 2011 were reMARkabLe.

perhaps TheIr failuRe tO taKe a PoiNt From the grOup stageS cLoUdEd RefLectiONs on a camPaIgn WhIch DefieD All oddS.

But iN briNgInG A soLid grouP Of lEAgue Of irElanD plAyErs to That TAblE - Enda StEvens is thE onLY IriSh MeMber of tHat squad now baSeD across the WaTer - o'Neill DEMonstratEd his tactical nous and his ABility tO maKe the CollEctive greAteR than tHe sUM of the Parts.

SOme paRaLleLS Can be DRAwN wiTh His current JOB. A pErfecT sTart To the neW campaign has been acHIevEd without the sErvIces OF ThE NoRTh'S HigHeST-prOFIle player, Jonny EVans.

O'Neill'S PREmIer League cONtiNgEnt for tHeir triP to RoMAnia thiS week is maDe up of thrEe west bROm rEpresentatIves, SoutHampton's STEven DAViS and tHe yOuthfuL pAir Of PadDy McNaIR (MaN UnitEd) and RYaN McLauGhlin (liVerpool).

EMployees of Notts County, DoNcasteR, FleeTwoOd and MK DoNs aRE a pArt of his pLans. and the 45-
 at Northern Ireland's tra ck record. 

SCA LP
Si nc e Mc Atee r's glorious L a nsdo wne afternoon, our fri endsno r th o f  t he bo rder ha v em a nag ed  t o t ak e  t he sc alp  of vis iting side s f ro m Spain, Eng l an d, Sweden,  De nmark, Russi a a nd Pol an d.Now,und er th e stew a rdship  of Micha el O'Neil l , theyh a ve  kic ked out of the bl o ck s  in the 2016 r ace in  s e ri o u sly  im pressive f as hionb y getti n gi n t o t h e winning gro ove on thei r  tr avels. 
Doi n g thebusin es s  ag ainst Hunga ry i n Budapes t wasc ommenda b le, eve n if t heMag yars ar enolo n ger area l  fo rce. But  t ak ing f ullp o i n ts i n G reec e las t month again sta te a m w hichhas m aste re d the  art o f qua li fying was a rea l st atement o f i nt ent .
Long - term o bse rve rs of P ortadow n 'sO' N e i ll  will not be surpr is e d  t hat he i s work i ng  w o nders wi th  aside t hat i s pu n ch ing abov e thei r  w ei ght. Hi sachiev em ent  in  brin g ingShamro ck Rover s tot he Europa Leag u e group stage s  i n 20 1 1 lo oks  even moreadmi r able  inh in dsi g ht.
Whate ve r  y o ur view of League o fIrelan d sta ndards - let' s not go d o w n  the Lut on T o wn route - it isfairto say tha t  the Hoo ps' b reakthro ugh ran i n tandem w ith  asea son w he re the overal l qual it y was o n t he slid e d uetorec es sionary c ost-cutt in g. 
On lynow i s  the gra ph  be gi nni ng to turn i n the  rig ht  d i rec tion ag a in a fter  a  s tead y s li p fro m th e  pe ak in t he mid-no ugh t ieswh en  therewas real stre ng th in dept h.  In  the c i r cumstanc es, the exploits of Rov e rs in 2 011  were  rem arkable.
Pe rhapsthe i r fail ure to  take  a  po i n t fro m th e g ro up stagesc l oud ed re fl ecti ons ona campaign which d e fie d all odds.
But  inb r in gin g  a sol id gro u p  of League of I reland pla ye r sto that ta b le-Enda St evens i s the only Ir ish membe r of that  s quad n owbased acro ss the w ater - O' N eilld em onstr ate d hista cti cal n ous an d  hi s abi lity t omake t he co ll ective g reater than the sum ofthe pa rts.
So me parall els can  be drawn  wit h his curr ent  jo b. Aper f ect s tart to  th e  newcamp a ign has b e en  ac h i ev ed withoutt h e  se rvice s o f  the N orth 's highest-profil e  player, Jonny  Eva n s .
O'N e ill' sPremier League  co nt i n gent for  t heir trip t o Romani at his w eek is  madeup of t h r ee West B romrep resentati ves ,S outhamp to n' s  Steve n Da vi s andthe yo u thfu l pair of Paddy Mc Nair( M an Un i ted ) and  R yan McL a ughl in (Liverp ool).

Empl oyeesof N ottsCounty,  D oncast er,  F leetwood a n d MK Dons  area partof  his  pl ans. A nd t h e  45-
 at_Northern Ireland's_track record.

SCALP

Since McAteer's glorious_Lansdowne afternoon,_our_friends north_of_the border have_managed to take_the scalp of visiting_sides from Spain,_England,_Sweden, Denmark, Russia and Poland.

Now, under the stewardship of Michael O'Neill, they have kicked_out_of the_blocks_in_the 2016 race in seriously_impressive fashion by getting into_the winning_groove on their travels.

Doing the business against Hungary_in_Budapest was commendable,_even if the Magyars are no longer a real_force. But taking full points in_Greece last month_against_a_team which has mastered_the art of qualifying was a_real statement of intent.

Long-term observers of_Portadown's O'Neill will not be surprised that_he is working wonders with a_side that is punching above_their weight._His achievement in bringing Shamrock_Rovers to the_Europa League_group stages in_2011 looks even more admirable in_hindsight.

Whatever your view_of League of Ireland standards -_let's_not go down_the_Luton_Town route_- it is_fair_to say_that_the Hoops' breakthrough ran in tandem_with_a season where the overall quality was_on the slide due_to_recessionary cost-cutting.

Only now is_the graph beginning to turn_in the right direction again after_a steady_slip from_the peak in the mid-noughties when there was real strength in_depth. In the circumstances, the exploits_of Rovers in 2011_were remarkable.

Perhaps_their_failure to take_a_point from_the group stages clouded reflections on a_campaign which_defied all odds.

But in bringing a_solid group of League_of_Ireland players to that table -_Enda Stevens is the only Irish_member of that squad now_based_across_the water - O'Neill demonstrated_his tactical nous and his ability_to make the_collective greater than the sum of the_parts.

Some_parallels can be drawn with his_current_job. A perfect start to the_new_campaign_has been achieved without the_services of the North's highest-profile player,_Jonny Evans.

O'Neill's Premier League contingent for their trip to_Romania this week_is made up of three_West_Brom_representatives, Southampton's Steven Davis and the youthful pair of Paddy_McNair (Man_United) and Ryan_McLaughlin (Liverpool).

Employees of Notts County, Doncaster, Fleetwood and MK Dons_are a part of his plans. And_the 45-