Andy Kirk Post Ayr

International call up czeched out with 100th League goal. Ton up with 17th for Pars.

Andy Kirk got the all important opening goal on Saturday in the Pars match against Ayr United to polish off a fine weekend for him. The 30 year old from Belfast had just been called up into Nigel Worthington's Northern Ireland squad to travel to Prague on Wednesday to complete their World Cup qualifiers.

"It has turned out to be a good weekend; I got a phone call last night telling me I was in the squad. Today a win and a goal topped it off for me.

"I was surprised since I don't think I was on the stand by list for the previous squad although it tells me now that I have been in the manager's thoughts at some stage. It is a great honour for me to get back involved, it is something that I have always had in the back of my mind. I am delighted to be back in the squad.

Andy will miss the Pars match at Dingwall on Tuesday night but he hopes to re-establish himself in his national squad.  His last international appearance was in June 2005 when Germany over ran Northern Ireland 4-1 at Windsor Park. (Referee incidentally was Charlie Richmond). Andy reckoned he currently has ten caps but according Northern Ireland FA website he has 11. On the other hand Soccerbase and Wikipedia credit him with only eight!

"Hopefully with a little bit of luck I can add to that when I am away. It will be a tough game against the Czechs because they are a world class side. It is great for me, I am buzzing and looking forward to it."

Unfortunately following Saturday's results where Slovenia defeated group leaders Slovakia, Northern Ireland need a seven goal swing including San Marino defeating Slovenia to qualify for the play offs but the involvement gives Andy a big boost to his career.

"I am back amongst the goals today so it boosts your confidence that I hope I can maintain when I am away and obviously when I return. Today was a massive game for us. We have been so unlucky in the previous games; we have player a lot better than we did today but the result was the most important thing. We are delighted to get it.

"I don't think we were lacking confidence we just needed the break to get the goal and home win to take the monkey off our back. The results hadn't been going for us at home but once you get that first goal it seems to be like that for us - in the league if we go in front we tend to go on and boos the game to win.

"Our first half performance wasn't great but in a 20 minute spell in the second half we ripped them apart to score the goals. We need to keep the standard at that level because we have really good players here. We have maybe underachieved slightly in certain games, refereeing decisions and a bit of bad luck has gone against us hopefully today is the turning point today and we can push on."

Andy was unaware that he was on the brink of his league goal  century:-

"It is another goal for me, I have always scored goals no matter where I have been. It is always something that I am looking to do; I get myself in the box and if the chances come I am confident that I can take them. As I say I am pleased with the goal today but it is a great result for the team."

100 League goals:- Hearts 31; Boston United 18; Northampton 30; Yeovil 4; Dunfermline 17.