Euro 2016: Gareth McAuley scored Northern Ireland’s first goal of the competition — and their last
The West Brom man's own goal against Wales that put his side on the plane home could be his last in international football
GARETH McAULEY scored Northern Ireland’s first goal at their first Euros — and their last.
And the heartbreaking repercussions of turning Gareth Bale’s cross past his own keeper 15 minutes from time stretch way beyond an exit from Euro 2016.
McAuley is 36 and expected to retire from international football now to concentrate on his career at West Brom, where he has a new one-year contract.
With him will go veteran defender Aaron Hughes after 102 caps and vastly-experienced reserve keeper Roy Carroll, 38.
But the biggest loss will be the inevitable departure of boss Michael O’Neill who has overseen a renaissance in the Northern Ireland team and its reputation. English clubs have had him on their radar for months as the Irish swept through qualifying to make their debut at the expanded Euros.
Even his bosses at the Irish FA happily talk their manager up and anticipate him to be gone within weeks. And they wish him well.
Whatever happens, the team which punched above its weight against world champions Germany and captured hearts with the colour in the team and among the fans, will break up.
It does so with a sense of frustration because it feels like it was only just beginning under O’Neill.
His whole four years has been built on stoic defending. Every match throwing up brick walls in front of better players and snatching glory on the break.
He has just five Premier League players among his 23.
McAuley was a huge part of that.
It is typical of football that when the fatal crack appeared it would be from the man who fired this whole French adventure into life with a header against Ukraine in the rain in the second group game.
Related stories
He said: “I’m gutted at the way it’s ended, but worse things happen in life.
“Everyone has to go home — if they even do go home! It’s been fantastic, we’ve embraced it and we’ve enjoyed it.
“Gareth Bale has got a fantastic ball into the box and perhaps I could have got a little less on it but he (Robson-Kanu) was right behind me so I had to get something on it.”
But he joked: “I’ll take that rather than miss a penalty.
“Hopefully we can get to another major tournament soon.”
O’Neill said: “It’s devastating really. I thought we were the better team on the day and to lose as we did is very, very disappointing.
“We gave everything, I couldn’t have asked for any more from the players throughout the whole tournament.
“Gareth knows it was one of those balls where he has to make a decision whether to touch it or not when it comes across — he opts to touch it.
“Gareth’s been magnificent for me since I’ve been manager. It’s a shame for him, because he’s had a great tournament.”
Northern Ireland will trouser around £8million from this epic campaign and have vowed to plough about a third of that into improving grassroots football to grow the next generation of players.
Whoever takes over from McAuley, O’Neill and co inherits a squad temporarily deflated but with great long-term potential.
Britain’s exit from Europe has been acknowledged as a possible springboard for more players from the province to shine.
For now, Northern Ireland’s players have one last task — a huge homecoming reception from the 20,000 who have packed the Belfast fan zone.