It was a successful return to Under-21 international action for some of the most promising younger talent in the Danske Bank Premiership.
No fewer than six players from around the league were named amongst John Schofield's panel for Northern Ireland's 1-0 win over Slovakia at Mourneview Park in the European Championship qualifiers. It follows on from a 4-1 reversal to Malta late last week.
Linfield's Trai Hume, Kofi Balmer (Larne) and Ballymena United striker Ryan Waide all started the game. Hume and Balmer played the full 90 minutes, whereas Waide was replaced on 82 minutes by Linfield's Cameron Palmer.
Oisin Smyth (Dungannon Swifts) also came on with eight minutes remaining for Birmingham City's Caolan Boyd-Munce while Portadown's Harry Anderson was an unused substitute.
