NIALL McGINN can't remember the last time Northern Ireland reached the finals of a major competition.
He wasn't born when the international side he now graces made it to the World Cup in Mexico in 1986.
Now, the Aberdeen winger has capped winning a place at the European Championships next year by being named the Ladbrokes Premiership player of the month for September.
It was a year before McGinn's birth that his country's international side made it to Mexico but under Michael O’Neill, their manager, they topped Group F in their Euro qualifiers, ahead of Romania and Hungary with an attractive style of football.
“It's really nice to be recognised with the player of the month award,” McGinn said. “And it has topped off what has been an unbelievable week for me after that happened on the international stage.
"Not only qualifying for the finals in France but doing it as the first country to win the group after being drawn in Pot 5 was beyond our wildest dreams.
"I wasn't even born the last time Northern Ireland qualified for a major tournament so to go down in history as being part of that is incredible.
"Things are a bit surreal at the moment as it hasn't really sunk in yet but it is great we can all come back to club football with a smile on our faces.
"Michael O'Neill has made a massive difference right from when he came through the door in terms of his planning and thoughts on the game.
"There's a great spirit and work rate in the group which you can see in the performances and now in the results we are getting.
"I can remember all those years travelling to countries, playing in big matches and not winning them.
"It is great representing your country whatever the circumstances but you want to get the positive results to go with it and we have had the chance to do that now.”
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