Euro 2024 qualifiers: Northern Ireland beat San Marino to end five-match losing run in Group H

Northern Ireland brought a run of five consecutive Euro 2024 qualifier defeats to an end thanks to a comfortable 3-0 victory over San Marino in Belfast.

The hosts made a blistering start with Paul Smyth volleying in the opener before Josh Magennis hit the bottom corner on 11 minutes.

Conor McMenamin slotted home his first international goal to seal the win.

It completed a Group H double over the minnows but Northern Ireland's hopes of making the finals are over.

Wins for Slovenia and Denmark later on Saturday confirmed their failure to qualify for the tournament in Germany next year.

Long-term Injuries to key players, including Steven Davis and Stuart Dallas, have been a blow for Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill while experienced defender Craig Cathcart retired last month.

• NI secure win over San Marino - as it happened

It's a period of transition and O'Neill is planning ahead with his young squad to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers while he has "one eye" on the Euro 2028 campaign, with Northern Ireland a host country in the latter.

However, he is determined to finish the remaining Group H games on a high and while it was an excellent start against the world's lowest ranked team at Windsor Park, the rest of the match was a largely lacklustre affair.

O'Neill made six changes from last month's defeat by Kazakhstan including a new front three of Smyth, Magennis and Dale Taylor.

The trio impressed in Northern Ireland's strong opening as they doubled their points tally in a one-sided affair, with San Marino providing next to nothing in attack.

Hosts quick out of the blocks

Queens Park Rangers striker Smyth scored just four minutes after coming on for his Northern Ireland debut against South Korea in 2018.

He ended his five-year wait for a second goal - on his first international start - after five minutes with Taylor slipping in Jamal Lewis on the overlap and his cross to the back post picked out Smyth, who smashed in with a scissor-kick finish.

Smyth had already set up Taylor to head over and he would turn provider for the second goal, with his low cross from the right slid into the net by Magennis from six yards.

The intensity from the hosts dropped after making it 2-0, though Trai Hume shot just over from distance and they had two goals ruled out before the break.

Leap of joy for Josh Magennis after scoring Northern Ireland's second goal against San Marino

Smyth thought he had completed his double with a wonderful lobbed effort past Elia Benedettini from Jonny Evans' pinpoint pass, but after a lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) check he was adjudged just offside.

Taylor was next to find the net but this time there was little need to go to VAR with the Wycombe Wanderers forward at least a yard offside.

Northern Ireland continued to carve out openings in the second half with Magennis sending Taylor clear but he poked wide after Benedettini raced out to force him into a rushed finish.

Conor Washington escaped a red card just minutes after coming on as substitute - his poor challenge on Lorenzo Larrazi resulted in referee Bram van Driessche going to the pitchside VAR screen but he decided it only merited a yellow.

Benedettini produced a good double save to deny two substitutes with Isaac Price's deflected shot parried out to Callum Marshall, whose diving header found the hands of the keeper.

The third goal arrived nine minutes from time as Benedettini pushed a Washington strike into the path of McMenamin and after a poor first touch the substitute slammed the ball in from close range.

Paddy McNair is suspended for Tuesday's home encounter against group leaders Slovenia after picking up a booking in the final seconds.

Conor McMenamin fires home to make it 3-0 in Saturday's qualifier at Windsor Park