Euro 2016: Kyle Lafferty leads Northern Ireland home as Ireland also arrive following double heartbreak
Martin O'Neill and deputy Roy Keane cut glum figures as Emerald Isle's France dream officially ended for both yesterday
KYLE LAFFERTY leads dejected Northern Ireland stars home as Ireland also arrive following their Euro heartbreak.
Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane departed their jet looking glum after France came back to beat them 2-1 yesterday.
Related stories
Two goals from Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann ended their dreams, while for Michael O'Neill's men it was an own goal from Gareth McAuley that brought their last-16 exit.
They had looked the better team for large parts of the clash against Wales - as Dragons boss Chris Coleman readily admitted.
But there was little chance to bounceback after putting in Gareth Bale's cross with little over ten minutes left to go.
There was more hope for Ireland, especially as they went into the second-half with the lead.
It was Robbie Brady's third-minute penalty that had fans inside the Stade de Lyon dreaming.
O'Neill admitted afterwards that his side were not "only winning well at half-time but feeling we could win the match".
It was not to be however, with Griezmann striking twice in four minutes and the fightback over for good once Shane Duffy was sent off.