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NORTHERN Ireland rounded the season off on a positive note with a comfortable 4-1 defeat of Georgia at Windsor Park in this Nationwide International Challenge.

And on the night David Healy was honoured by UEFA President Michel Platini for his scoring achievements in the European Championship qualifiers it was fitting that he played a pivotal role in what was a comprehensive victory.

Northern Ireland moved in front after 24 minutes when the Fulham striker won the ball some 25 yards from goal, played it forward to Steve Davis who, in turn, knocked it on for Kyle Lafferty to finish low past 'keeper Georgi Makaridze.

And Healy went one better just eight minutes later to make it 2-0. Once again he collected the ball in the middle of the park and, showing his natural scoring instincts, unleashed a superbly struck effort which took a slight deflection off Kahka Kaladze on its way into the net.

Then, barely three minutes later, 'Sir David' played his part in Northern Ireland's third. He turned provider to deliver an inch perfect cross which strike partner Lafferty headed home from eight yards out.

Georgia pulled a goal back nine minutes into the second half.

Debutant Michael O'Connor - on at half-time for Damien Johnson - handled inside the area to concede a penalty. Tskitishvili's spot-kick was poorly taken and knocked onto the post by Maik Taylor but in his attempt to clear the loose ball Healy could only help it over the line. Definitely one goal he'll not be wanting to remember!

The visitors came close to reducing the deficit further on 71 minutes when Iashvili got into a dangerous position but Taylor did well to save his close range effort.

That was Taylor's last meaningful input to the game. He was substituted on 80 minutes by Alan Mannus who made it a trio of Linfield players on the pitch, joining Michael Gault and Peter Thompson who had replaced Davis and Healy respectively some ten minutes earlier.

It marked the first time since October 1984 that three Irish League players had represented their country at the same time.

On that occasion George Dunlop, Lee Doherty and Martin McGaughey - again all on Linfield's books - played their part in a 3-0 friendly defeat of Israel with Doherty helping himself to one of the goals, the last time a locally based player scored for the national team.

It was somewhat fitting, then, that Thompson - the leading marksman domestically - completed the scoring with just three minutes remaining when he got the final touch as the ball rattled around the area from a corner.

Northern Ireland: Taylor, Baird, Hughes, Craigan, Evans, Gillespie, Johnson, Davis, Elliott, Healy, Lafferty subs Mannus (replaced Taylor 80), Feeney (replaced Lafferty 46), O'Connor (replaced Johnson 46), McAuley (replaced Craigan 57), Gault (replaced Davis 70), Thompson (replaced Healy 70)