Justin Devenny is riding the wave of an extraordinary 12 months, but there will be no time to soak up the sun just yet. The Crystal Palace midfielder has celebrated a remarkable trophy hat-trick—lifting the FA Cup, scoring the decisive penalty in the Community Shield, and now securing the UEFA Conference League—yet his mind is already on the next challenge with Northern Ireland.
After helping Oliver Glasner’s side conquer Europe for the first time, Devenny could have jetted off for a well-earned break. Instead, the 22-year-old reported for international duty for friendlies against Guinea and France. “It was a great experience to win a major trophy,” he said, reflecting on the Conference League triumph. “I thought the boys were great and thought we fully deserved it throughout the full competition. The celebrations were great as well, I enjoyed it.”
But Devenny’s commitment to Northern Ireland is unwavering. Despite a season in which he has been in and out of the Palace lineup, the versatile left wing-back sees every minute on the pitch as precious. “There wasn’t a question about me missing this. All I want to do is play football, especially when I’ve not been playing as much. Any opportunity to get games is great for me and I just want to keep playing and keep building because, at the end of the day, I’m going to get a month off in the off season.”
The friendlies present a stiff test, particularly the clash with a France side set to compete at the World Cup later this summer. Devenny is relishing the opportunity to measure himself against the world’s best. “France are probably the best team in the world, so there’s a lot to learn. Throughout your career you want to challenge yourself against the best players and it’ll be good to see yourself in and amongst that environment, just to get a feeling of being at the absolute top of the game because they’re a team full of superstars. As hard as it’s going to be, you need to believe you can compete in any game and at any level.”
Northern Ireland’s recent history provides both pain and purpose. A World Cup play-off semi-final defeat to Italy denied them a place at the tournament, but Devenny insists that heartbreak is fueling the squad’s ambition. “You can’t dwell on it. I love watching football, so I’ll be watching it and enjoying it—hopefully relaxing somewhere. Everyone’s excited for what’s to come. We felt that heartbreak but what’s done is done and I think that will be good for us to use because we don’t really want to feel that again.”
Stability on the international stage has been reinforced by Michael O’Neill’s decision to extend his contract until 2032. Devenny is “delighted” the manager is staying, praising the environment O’Neill has created. “You need to be happy, you need to be confident, you need to be playing with freedom and the gaffer allows us to do that. I think you see that and he does put his trust in the boys. Everyone always talks about togetherness in football and I think it is so important because that builds the foundations to allow you to go and express yourself on the pitch.”
While Devenny enjoys continuity with his country, change is coming at Selhurst Park. Glasner’s departure after a historic tenure leaves a vacancy, with Lens boss Pierre Safe emerging as the leading candidate to take over. For Devenny, it represents a fresh start and a chance to secure more regular club football. “My intentions will be going back for pre-season and really just hitting the ground running, to try my best and keep working hard and you never know because things change quickly in football. I just need to keep focusing on myself. It’s almost a fresh start for everyone when we get back and with a fresh start, it brings opportunities for me to hopefully go and express myself. I want to be playing week in, week out and hopefully I’ll do that.”
Devenny’s trajectory from a fringe player to a triple trophy winner in the space of a year is a testament to his resilience and aptitude. His ability to step up in crucial moments—such as that winning penalty at Wembley—has already caught the eye. With Northern Ireland consistently fielding some of the youngest starting lineups, he is part of a generation that could reshape the nation’s footballing fortunes. Facing elite opponents like France only accelerates their development.
As his teammates scatter to beaches and relaxation, Devenny’s choice to prioritise international duty speaks volumes about his character. By the time he does allow himself a break, he will have added further experience against top-tier opposition—valuable currency for both club and country. With a new manager to impress and a national team building towards future tournaments, the coming months could define his career. The beach can wait; there is still work to be done.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.