Celtic moved nine points clear in the Scottish Premier League title race with a 1-0 victory over Motherwell while Niall McGinn secured a 2-2 draw for Aberdeen against Dundee United at Pittodrie.
Northern Ireland came close to a stunning victory in Portugal after Niall McGinn's first-half strike, but Helder Postiga rescues a FIFA World Cup™ qualifying point ten minutes from time on Cristiano Ronaldo's 100th appearance.
Niall McGinn proved the pivotal figure for Celtic as they moved level on points with Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers, at least temporarily, with a convincing 3-0 win over St Johnstone.
Niall McGinn has thanked Neil Lennon for his support during a five-month injury layoff, as the Celtic midfielder prepares for Northern Ireland's game against Italy at Windsor Park on Friday.
Nigel Worthington has named Adam Barton in his Northern Ireland squad for the first time, and recalled Niall McGinn and Paddy McCourt for the UEFA EURO 2012 qualifiers against Italy and Faroe Islands.
Celtic closed the gap on Rangers with a 4-1 win over ten-man St. Johnstone after enduring the early shock of having a penalty put St. Johnstone ahead.
