Northern Ireland’s Justin Devenny will meet up with his international team-mates for the June friendlies as a club European champion following UEFA Conference League glory with Crystal Palace.
He may not have the medal in his luggage ahead of Northern Ireland facing Guinea and France but will certainly bring an extra smile to the camp thanks to victory in Germany over Rayo Vallecano.
Northern Ireland's Justin Devenny (second left) racing from the sidelines at full-time with team-mates to join in the Crystal Palace celebrations after UEFA Europa Conference League final success over Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig. (Photo by Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)placeholder image
Northern Ireland's Justin Devenny (second left) racing from the sidelines at full-time with team-mates to join in the Crystal Palace celebrations after UEFA Europa Conference League final success over Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig. (Photo by Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
An unused substitute on the landmark night as Palace lifted a first-ever European trophy, Devenny’s first action on the field of play was to essentially celebrate then collect his medal – adding to an impressive tally since making the move to the Eagles from Scotland in August 2023.
The 22-year-old featured last weekend in the final domestic fixture against newly-crowned champions Arsenal for a Premier League season’s total of 788 minutes across seven starts and 14 games off the substitutes’ bench. His 210 minutes in the European competition’s league phase came across two starts and two sub appearances.
But he made the 26-strong travelling party selected by boss Oliver Glasner to tackle Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday night.
Devenny has an FA Cup winner’s medal in his collection and scored the decisive penalty kick last year as Palace defeated Liverpool over the FA Community Shield.
He was also on target in Palace’s path to the Conference League final with a goal last December against KuPS.
That FA Community Shield shoot-out strike was named the ‘2025/26 Crystal Palace Socios Moment of the Season’ on the official club website.
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s strike in the second half proved decisive over Rayo Vallecano across Glasner’s final fixture as Palace boss in front of the 39,176-strong crowd.
Devenny’s day started with confirmation by the Irish Football Association of a four-year contract extension for Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill, plus the Palace midfielder named in the senior squad for those forthcoming international challenge games.
His night will end dreaming of European success and with a medal beside the bed.