WORLD CUP HERO RECALLS STUNNING CAMPAIGN THAT SENT NORTH TO MEXICO

'ANYONE who says that was a fix can come and see me. We bloody earned that and anyone who says different is a joke'.

- BY NICK MURPHY

The immortal words of the late Alan McDonald clung to the damp Wembley air as 12,000 Northern Ireland fans wildly celebrated another successful World Cup qualifying campaign under the famous Twin Towers in North London.

Eoin Hand's Ireland side had seen their own World Cup hopes dashed. But there was a team in green going to Mexico.

Four years after Gerry Armstrong and Co had conquered the Spanish in their own back yard, Northern Ireland were heading to the biggest show in football again.

The North may have been dominating news bulletins for all the wrong reasons, but when it came to sport in the mid-1980's, the stars coming from a population of just 1.5million were punching well above their weight.

Dennis Taylor was world snooker champion after his epic 'black ball final' win over Steve Davis, Barry McGuigan had ripped away Eusebio Pedroza's WBA world title at Loftus Road and Joey Dunlop had blown the opposition off the roads in the Isle of Man to collect a first TT hat-trick followed by a fourth Formula One crown.

The 'fix' that towering Rathcoole defender McDonald (inset) was alluding to was whispers from group rivals Romania and the English press - that Bobby Robson's team would take it easy on the visiting side.

They didn't and but for a Pat Jennings masterclass, Kerry Dixon missing a host of chances and some inspired defending from 22-year-old McDonald and central defensive partner John O'Neill, the sombreros were going back into the loft.

Hero of Valencia, Armstrong, was introduced as a second half sub at Wembley and watched in awe as 40-year-old Jennings defied his age - and pending retirement - to clinch a point from the jaws of glorious failure

One moment in particular - a stunning fingertip save to deny Glenn Hoddle from 30 yards - would cement the Newry goalkeeper's legend as one of the best to pull on a pair of gloves.