SAMMY Clingan played an integral role in making Northern Ireland history, helping the team to a record fourth successive qualifying victory.
Northern Ireland climbed atop Group Three on Saturday beating Poland 3-2. The hosts took the lead at Windsor Park through on-loan Dundee United striker Warren Feeney. Poland levelled just before the half hour mark through Ireneusz Jelen, who sprung the offside trap to beat Birmingham's Maik Taylor.
The lead was restored two minutes into the second half when Johnny Evans poked home a Grant McCann corner from close range. Celtic stopper Artur Boruc suffered a Paul Robinson-esque moment for Northern Ireland's third, skipper Michal Zewlakow's backpass took a wicked bobble to bounce over the goalkeeper's attempted kick and into the net. The Poles reduced the deficit to one in stoppage time through Southampton striker Marek Saganowski's diving header.
The record was set Wednesday night at Windsor Park against Slovenia. Clingan whipped in the cross from the right which saw Feeney beat Samir Handanovic with a flicked header for the only goal of the game.
David Marshall didn't feature in Scotland's two Group Nine qualifiers. Rangers' Allan McGregor kept goal in the Amsterdam ArenA in the 3-0 defeat to group leaders Holland and Sunderland's Craig Gordon was recalled for the 2-1 victory at Hampden Park over Iceland, which puts the Scots second in the group. Ross McCormack and Steven Fletcher scored the goals for Scotland with Indridi Sigurdsson's equaliser sandwiched between the strikes.
Likewise David Carney was an unused sub in Australia's 2-0 qualifying victory over Uzbekistan at Stadium Australia in Sydney. Josh Kennedy headed the Socceroos ahead before Harry Kewell sealed the win from the penalty spot.
Michael Spillane missed Ireland's Under-21 fixtures due to injury. The Young Boys in Green beat their Spanish counterparts 2-1 at Waterford's RSC Stadium on Friday but lost their opening fixture of the UEFA Under-21 2011 European Championship qualifiers 3-0 to Turkey at Turner's Cross, Cork.
Ryan Bertrand played 76 minutes at left-back in England Under-20's 2-0 victory over Italy at Loftus Road on Tuesday. First half goals from Ciaran Clark of Aston Villa and Man City's Daniel Sturridge saw off the Italians.
At under-19 level, Republic of Ireland got the better of Slovakia in a double international friendly in Bratislava. Academy prospect Danny Kelly didn't feature in Tuesday's 1-1 draw but came on as a half-time sub in the Thursday''s 2-1 win.
Four players were in action for three countries in the Elite round of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship. Goalkeeper Jed Steer and full-back Sam Habergham, who was a late call-up after being on stand-by, represented England, who chalked up three straights wins to progress to the finals in Germany in May. Steer kept goal for the two opening games, a 1-0 win over Portugal and a 2-1 win over Serbia. Habergham came off the bench for the Portgual victory and started the final group game, a 2-0 win over Hungary.
Winger Josh Dawkin was in the Welsh fold, who started with a 2-2 draw against Turkey, twice leading but lost their second game 3-0 to Finland. Dawkin scored the third in the 3-0 win against Romania. Despite victory in their final group game, Wales finished joint-second of Group 6 with Romania, Turkey claiming top spot and progression to Germany.
In Group 4, Dario Dumic was in action for Denmark and they got off to a great start, beating Norway 4-0. However, Dumic was sent off for two bookable offences in the second game as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Belarus. The central defender was suspended for the crucial final game against France, which they lost 1-0, as Les Bleus topped the group.
Travelling to join hosts Germany, to compete in the 2009 UEFA European Under-17 Championship between May 6 and 18 are Switzerland, Spain, Holland, France, Italy, Turkey and England.
