Rory McIlroy visits Northern Ireland's training camp as Michael O'Neill's side prepare for Euro 2016.....
Rory McIlroy hopes his winning touch will rub off on the Northern Ireland team as they prepare for Euro 2016 this summer.
McIlroy rushed straight from his Irish Open victory at the K Club on Sunday to the south Dublin training camp of Michael O'Neill's men.
The golfing star posed for a team picture with O'Neill's squad and a number of snaps with the Northern Ireland players while passing on his best wishes for this summer's tournament.
Leeds United and Northern Ireland midfielder Stuart Dallas posted this picture of him with Rory McIlroy
McIlroy visited the Northern Ireland camp to pass on his best wishes ahead of their Euro 2016 bid this summer
After years in the international wilderness, Northern Ireland are now looking ahead to next month's tournament in France.
O'Neill's men face a tough ask going up against Poland, Ukraine and Germany and will be undoubted underdogs to progress to the competition's latter stages.
But as they prepare for a series of pre-tournament friendlies, the squad were given a boost by the presence of McIlroy within their camp.
Northern Ireland said on their official Twitter account: 'Fantastic to have Irish Open Champion @McIlroyRory visit and to wish the players good luck ahead of @UEFAEURO'.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland squad members Stuart Dallas and Conor McLaughlin both posted pictures to Twitter of them alongside McIlroy.
Leeds midfielder Dallas wrote: 'Nice to have @McIlroyRory come to the hotel and speak with the boys after yesterday's Irish open win.'
Defender McLaughlin added: 'Class to have @McIlroyRory come down to the hotel and speak to the lads. Some drive on him.'
Before going to visit the Northern Ireland squad, McIlroy had shown his critics his game is in fine working order by finishing strongly at the K Club to win by three shots.
The victory on home soil saw the 27-year-old claim his first tournament win in six months.
McIlroy headed to Northern Ireland's training camp after securing victory at the Irish Open on Sunday
Victory at his home event at the K Club gave McIlroy a boost ahead of the start of a busy summer of golf