Patrick Kelly's shot clanged against the crossbar in the 31st minute, a sharp reminder of what might have been — but Windsor Park settled for pride over points as Northern Ireland held Hungary to a 0-0 draw. In a tight, tense Nations League clash, both teams battled fatigue and frustration, but the hosts kept their unbeaten start alive, a small spark of hope for a young squad still finding its footing.
This wasn't a game of flowing attacks or dazzling goals. It was a grind — the kind that tests character as much as skill. After a grueling 5,000-mile round trip from their opening match in Georgia, Northern Ireland looked weary. So did Hungary. Manager Michael O'Neill saw it clearly: "I felt like Hungary got a little bit stronger towards the end. I saw two tired teams."
Still, the team delivered. Kelly's near-miss was the clearest chance, though Isaac Price also forced a save from Hungarian keeper Balazs Toth. At the other end, Pierce Charles barely had to move — only making one real save when Alex Toth tried a late shot after a slow clearance. The threat of Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai, usually so dangerous, was shut down by a disciplined Northern Irish midfield.
But not everything sat right with O'Neill. Four of his players — Ethan Galbraith, captain Shea Charles, Jamie Donley, and Isaac Price — were booked, some in controversial moments. A penalty appeal for Charles, similar to the one Dan Ballard won in Georgia, was waved away. O'Neill didn't have the footage yet, but he had words: "The referee never seems to make the walk for us to the side of the pitch. It never seems to happen for us."
What bothered him more was the theatrics. He called out Hungarian players for play-acting — clutching faces, screaming — in what he described as an otherwise honest match. "We want that away and out of the game," he said. "That's why the referee has to speed the game up."
Still, one point keeps Northern Ireland competitive in a tight group. With wins and draws across Europe showing how close these teams are, O'Neill called it a "very good start." Now, the young side heads to Slovakia for a tough Friday clash with Ukraine. They're not there yet — but they're learning, fighting, and still unbeaten.