Paddy McCourt scored twice tonight in a man-of-the-match performance as Northern Ireland beat the Faroe Isles 4-0.
The Celtic hero, known as Pat rather than Paddy on international duty, was at his tantalising best scoring two memorable solo goals to keep Nigel Worthington’s side in with a chance of reaching the play-off’s for next summer’s European Championships.
Starting his first ever competitive international McCourt drifted in from the left before exchanging passes with Jonny Evans to score the third goal in the 71st minute then went solo two minutes from time before chipping the ball over the dazed opposition keeper.
‘There’s only one Pat McCourt’ rang around Windsor Park after the first strike followed by ‘Are you Messi in disguise’ after the Celtic man scored his second of the night with a goal that will be shown around Europe throughout the next few days.
“Ach I just tried something and luckily enough it came off,” McCourt answered modestly about his second goal. “It was on my left foot, I’d seen the keeper come off his line a bit and went for it. On the night it went in.
“I enjoyed the match. We didn’t play well in the first half, we started all right and got a goal up then took our foot off the gas. Nigel had a go at us at half-time but we played better in the second half.
“I thought that Niall (McGinn) came on and gave us a bit of impetus going forward with his pace. We knew that they’d play with one up front so that gave us extra men at the back to attack more and went on to win convincingly after a bit of a poor start.”
Worthington added: “The fourth goal was just typical of Pat. He’s learning how to work for the team and it was a superb display from him overall.
“I’m delighted for him, it’s been a long time coming. He got his opportunity and he’s taken it with both hands. With Pat there is so much ability there that you just have to let him play.”
Aaron Hughes and Steve Davis scored the other goals for Northern Ireland.
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I still wonder what its gonna take Lenny to keep Paddy cause firmly believe he will be as good as people believe and if we let him go oh boy we wull regret it
Great football CELTIC have to keep him He need to play in more games for us