Northern Ireland 3-1 Greece: Michael O'Neill's side seal qualification with victory

Northern Ireland sealed qualification for their first major tournament since 1986 and their first European Championships with a 3-1 victory against Greece at Windsor Park.

Captain Steven Davis set his side on their way to Euro 2016 in the 35th minute on Thursday night when he tapped home Stuart Dallas' cross from close range.

Michael O'Neill's side doubled their advantage just after the interval when Josh Magennis, who until 2008 played in goal before converting to become a striker, headed home Oliver Norwood's corner.

The job was all but complete for Northern Ireland but they made the result safe nine minutes later when Davis scored his second of the night, looping a header into the far corner to start the celebrations on the pitch and in the stands.

Greece pulled a consolation goal back with just four minutes remaining when Christos Aravidis bundled the ball home from close range, but nothing was going to dampen Northern Ireland's historic night.

Northern Ireland were moments away from an even better night but a late Romania equaliser against Finland denied them top spot in Group F. However, O'Neill's men can cap a perfect European qualifying campaign and secure top spot with a point when they travel to Helsinki to face Finland on Sunday.

Northern Ireland's resources were stretched for the visit of Greece, with Kyle Lafferty, Chris Baird and Connor McLaughlin suspended, while Jonny Evans and Aaron Hughes were also absent through injuries.

However,the likes of Magennis, Paddy McNair and Corry Evans were not found wanting as O'Neill's side started on the front foot, with Norwood trying his luck from distance.

Despite the home side's bright start, Greece looked a threat at set pieces and Michael McGovern was forced into action in the 15th minute after Panagiotis Kone's corner picked out Alexandros Tziolis at the far post, but the midfielder's header was beaten away by the Northern Ireland goalkeeper.

Northern Ireland continued to threaten and in the 25th minute, Dallas skipped past Jose Holebas on the left wing before finding Magennis, but the 25-year-old's close-range goal-bound effort deflected off Vangelis Moras and went out for a corner.

The hosts' pressure eventually paid off in the 35th minute when Evans' through-ball sliced through Greece to pick out Dallas, who pulled the ball back to Davis to tap home from three yards.

O'Neill's side were handed a scare just before the break as Konstantinos Mitroglou's long-range effort crashed back off the post, after Chris Brunt blocked Nikos Karelis' shot.

That scare proved to be a wake-up call for the home side and they set a brisk pace at the start of the second half.

They were immediately rewarded when Magennis reached Norwood's corner, looping his header over Aravidis on the line and into the back of the net for his first international goal.

Northern Ireland were in full control and they were cruising all the way to France 2016 when Brunt's corner eventually found its way to Davis near the edge of the penalty area and the Northern Ireland midfielder managed to find the net with another looping header.

It was party time in the crowd - which included golfer Rory McIlroy and IBF super-bantamweight champion Carl Frampton - and even an 86th-minute consolation goal from Aravidis could not spoil Windsor Park's evening as O'Neill's men booked their ticket to their first-ever European Championship finals.