Northern Irish overcome off-field issues

NORTHERN IRELAND shrugged off a second video nasty to come from behind in Belfast to beat Kosovo.

Gavin Whyte cancelled out Vedat Muriqi’s second-half opener, with Josh Magennis heading the late winner to ease the pressure on boss Ian Baraclough.

But the match was overshadowed by winger Conor McMenamin’s late withdrawal. The Irish FA stated the 27-year-old Glentoran winger had been sent home after a video emerged appearing to show him singing a pro-IRA slogan.

That came a day after Kyle Lafferty had been sent home amid an investigation by his club Kilmarnock into a video appearing to show him using alleged sectarian language.

The miserable mood continued as Muriqi found the bottom corner with a crisp shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Muriqi then blocked Jonny Evans’ header on the line, and goalkeeper Arijanet Muric kept out a Magennis effort.

Bailey PeacockFarrell then made a vital save to deny Muriqi what would have been the killer blow, and moments later Shayne Lavery squared for fellow substitute Whyte to fire home.

Peacock-Farrell made another save to deny Zymer Bytyqi and Wigan frontman Magennis capitalised at the death.