LAURA Rafferty described as "an unbelievable feeling" competing for Northern Ireland in her hometown of Southampton this month.

The Saints star watched on from the bench as an unused substitute for Northern Ireland's first two Women's Euro 2022 group stage matches, against Norway and Austria.

But boss Kenny Shiels threw Rafferty in from the start for the sold-out clash against England at St Mary's.

Northern Ireland gave a good account of themselves, but England's quality eventually told as they powered to a 5-0 victory.

Rafferty, who lined up in midfield, played 66 minutes of the contest, with friends and family watching on among the vocal Northern Ireland section in one corner of the ground.

Reflecting on the night, the 26-year-old said: "It’s just amazing. There’s not too many words to describe it.

"An unbelievable feeling.

"I think when you look at the green wall in the corner, they were fantastic and really pushed us on and every single girl deserves every bit of credit.

"They build you up, they help you and when you do go 1-0 down against a team like England, it is tough to come back.

"But you really have to bite the bullet and I think we stuck together.

"The Southampton girls were up in Scotland, but it’s fantastic.

"Obviously we’ve got a lot more games here this season, but I feel at home, so it was good to get out there and hopefully the girls enjoyed watching it up in Scotland."

She added: "I’m proud of every single one of the girls.

"The staff, the fans out there, family, friends, fantastic. Personally, I couldn’t ask for any more.

"It’s been a pleasure being here. The tournament hosted us so well, so good luck to everyone else left in it."

For Northern Ireland, it was their debut appearance at a major competition.

And while they went home having lost all three of their matches, the players and fans celebrated together after the defeat to England.

"I’ve got no words for it," Rafferty said, of the interaction with the fans at St Mary's.

"It’s incredible. The fact we’ve come this far, there’s a sentimental value for me as well, my family being 10 minutes down the road.

"My dad, a Belfast boy and being here, it would have been very emotional.

"It’s the first time he’s been over. It’s been incredible.

"Every single one of those girls deserves every bit of credit that they can get, because from me being in a place of football maybe two years ago where I wasn’t sure where I was going to be, to now be here, those girls deserve everything.

"And they will get it, because everyone in the team is a good person."

Discussing how Northern Ireland qualifying for the Euros can the country in the future, Rafferty said: "I think we haven’t just inspired a younger generation for any other reason than we’ve got a lot of young players in the team.

"I’m 26 myself and I learnt more than I’ve ever learnt in my life being here (at the Euros) for two weeks.

"Just competing fills you with confidence. We all need to go home and just crack on now.

"We’ve got girls that want to come through and I hope we’ve inspired young boys.

"We’ve not just inspired our own nation, but we’ve inspired a lot of others and Northern Ireland is on the map and we’re not leaving."