I'd Love To Get The Bara Of You Again!

North & South on collision course and new gaffer at Windsor Baraclough wants to repeat 2014 Setanta Cup win over Kenny

- Michael Scully

The stakes will be considerably higher if Ian Baraclough gets his wish to “lock horns” with Stephen Kenny in November – this time with a place in the Euro 2020 finals on the line.

The last time they met in a final was in the 2014 Setanta Sports Cup in a rain-soaked Tallaght stadium when Baraclough’s Sligo Rovers saw off Kenny’s Dundalk courtesy of Paul O’Conor’s winner.

Six years on, Kenny is the new Republic of Ireland manager, and – on Monday – he sent a congratulatory text to Baraclough after his appointment as Northern Ireland’s new boss (right).

“It was good to hear from him,” grinned Baraclough, who also led Sligo to their first league title in 35 years.