Mac attack

Mac attack

8 June 2022

DOWNPATRICK’S Conor McMenamin made his international debut as Northern Ireland drew 0-0 away to Cyprus on Sunday evening in the UEFA Nations League.

“I was delighted, it’s a dream come true type of thing,” he said. 

“I’ve worked hard for it, it’s just disappointing that we didn’t take one of those chances just before the end.

“It would have been a perfect night to seal my debut with a win but we’re disappointed and we know that we have lots to work on.”

The 26 year-old was an unused substitute in Thursday night’s 1-0 defeat to Gus Poyet’s Greece at Windsor Park, however, Ian Baraclough called the local star from the bench in the 64th minute in Larnaca.

McMenamin was the source of creating the best opportunity in the game for Ian Baraclough’s side, who are still yet to win a Nations League game over the three campaigns they’ve been involved in.

McMenamin floated a low ball in for Ali McCann who somehow failed to hit the target from close range sending his low effort wide when the Preston North End man should have scored.

“I just went on and tried to make an impact for the team, when space opened up I just tried to play my normal game and just tried to play as I always play,” said McMenamin. 

“If the opportunity came and I thought the shot was on or I crossed it I just decided to do what I’ve always done and just tried to be myself.”

McMenamin also had a chance to score himself, as he picked up the ball with 15 minutes to go but his effort that he tried to curl into the far corner was just slightly over hit and sailed over the top.

“Coming on it was hard, it was tough the weather was hard to get used too,” he said. 

“It was 25 degrees and it was hard to get up to speed with it, but the adrenaline got me through it and I was obviously just delighted to be on the pitch.”

Sunday’s draw in front of 600 travelling fans against a team sitting 105th in the world rankings, 51 places below Northern Ireland, made it three draws and nine defeats in 12 Nations League matches.

Northern Ireland created more problems for the Cypriots with the Glentoran forward on the pitch, as his pace, crossing and desire pulled the home sides defence around but they couldn’t find a winner.

The hosts also had good chances, with Fanos Katelaris cracking the crossbar with a 35 yard thunderbolt just before half-time and Bailey Peacock-Farrell making a smart save from Marinos Tzionis on the counter-attack.

“The talent we have in that changing room we expect to come to places like these and get a win but we didn’t so we are disappointed,” reflected McMenamin. 

“So we have to go away and work on that, we’ve lots to improve on, but hopefully we can look back on this and build on the disappointment to see what we’ve done wrong.”

McMenamin could win his second cap tomorrow night as Northern Ireland travel to play Kosovo who have one win and one defeat in the group as it stands.