A TRIO of Burnley legends are celebrating their inclusion in Northern Ireland's all-time best X1.

A BBC website poll has compiled the list to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Irish Football Association.

And former Clarets Jimmy McIlroy, Willie Irvine and Billy Hamilton have all been honoured with inclusion in the greatest ever national side.

McIlroy, still revered as Burnley's greatest ever player nearly 40 years after his retirement, earned 55 caps for Northern Ireland in a glittering career, 51 of them with the Clarets. His made his debut in 1952 versus England and went on to score 10 goals in his international career, which peaked during the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.

Irvine, who moved from Carrickfergus aged 17, has a ratio of goals-per-game that stands the test of time with any Burnley player in any era. He made his Northern Ireland debut in 1963 against Wales, playing alongside McIlroy who was now firmly established in the side. Irvine scored the winning goal against England in 1972 in the penultimate of his 23 caps.

Six years later, Hamilton made his international debut in a Home International clash with Scotland while at QPR. Eighteen months later. He joined Burnley in a £38,000 move, where he earned the majority of his 41 caps, starring in the 1982 World Cup in Spain where he is still remembered for providing the cross against the host nation that Gerry Armstrong converted to seal a stunning 1-0 victory.

Hamilton, who scored five goals for his country and also played in Mexico in 1986, recently enjoyed a reunion with all his international colleagues, including McIlroy and Irvine, at an official dinner in Belfast to celebrate the country's 125th anniversary.

The Greatest Northern Ireland X1 ever, as voted for by the public, is as follows: Pat Jennings (119 caps), Jimmy Nicholl (73), Mal Donaghy (91), Gerry Taggart (51), Alan McDonald (56), Danny Blanchflower (56), Jimmy McIlroy (55), Keith Gillespie (56 so far), George Best (37), Billy Hamilton (41), Willie Irvine (23).