O’Neill admired the performance of his young side, who have made a superb start to qualifying.
A win in Luxembourg was followed by an hour of matching European heavyweights Germany, who eventually prevailed to win 3-1.
Friday’s win was superb from first minute to last. A Patrik Hrosovsky own goal broke the deadlock before Hume’s superb effort with just under 10 minutes left made sure – but was it the best under O’Neill?
“I don’t really look at games like that because teams evolve,” O’Neill said when asked if it was the most complete performance since his return in 2023 for a second spell in charge.
The Germany fixture will be his 100th game as Northern Ireland boss.
“The team when I came back in is very different to the team now,” O’Neill said. “They have given other good performances, like at home here to Bulgaria [a 5-0 win in October 2024] when we were excellent.
“I think tonight was a team of a higher calibre as well, so you can say it is one of the best performances we’ve had, but I still think there is more in the tank, and I think the players believe that as well.”
O’Neill was also full of praise for Hume, who has moved up the leagues with Sunderland and is now a Premier League regular.
The defender’s goal had come after the in-form David Strelec poked an effort wide for Slovakia. In the past, when there felt like an inevitability that the opposition would hit back, Hume’s effort changed that narrative.
“We deserved to be more than one goal ahead with how the game had gone, but we needed that second goal,” said O’Neill.
“Slovakia are a good team and are very experienced at international level, and it only takes a moment.
“They did have that chance and they missed it. As a young team you can lose confidence and momentum in that situation, but when the second goal went in – and it was a great finish – it was great for him as he’s such an important player for us.”
The main Belfast parade started its march from north Belfast
Crowds have lined the streets of cities, towns and villages all over Northern Ireland to attend Twelfth of July parades.
Thousands of Orange Order members take part in the annual marches to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
The event is also a celebration of Protestant traditions and Ulster-Scots heritage.
Members of local Orange lodges are being joined on parade by visiting lodges from Scotland and further afield.
Pacemaker
Members of Sister Clarke Memorial lodge in Scotland take part in Belfast parade
Twelfth of July parades held in scorching sunshine
The main parade in Belfast set off from the Orange hall at Clifton Street in north Belfast.
Parades are also taking place in various parts of Northern Ireland including Coleraine, Dromara and Augher.
Northern Ireland Office Minister Fleur Anderson and Deputy First Minister Emma-Little Pengelly attended events in Keady, County Armagh.
Fleur Anderson (left) and Emma-Little Pengelly with the Orange Order’s grand secretary the Reverend Mervyn Gibson
The grand secretary of the Orange Order, the Reverend Mervyn Gibson, who was also in Keady, said the lead up to the Twelfth has been “tremendous”.
Asked about the Eleventh night and bonfires he said: “99% of everything passed off wonderfully.
“Today couldn’t be a better day for it, the sun is shining and the bands are playing loud, it’s just been a great Twelfth of July.”
Fleur Anderson said: “It’s important to see that you can have a cultural identity that can be celebrated and is also peaceful.”
In Keady, band members parade in the heat with a Lambeg drum
Parades are taking place across Northern Ireland, like this one in Kesh
Thousands of people marched through Kesh in County Fermanagh, joined by members of neighbouring Orange Order lodges in counties Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim and Donegal.
Melissa and Lyndsay have travelled from Birmingham to watch the parade in Belfast
Lyndsay and Melissa, who came from Birmingham to Belfast to see the parade for the first time, said the passion people had for it was “absolutely beautiful”.
“It’s like a tradition being passed over from generation to generation, I think that’s really important,” said Lyndsay.
However, both were surprised that marchers were parading in suits as temperatures soared.
Melissa added: “At least it’s not raining.”
PA Media
A spectator shading herself from the blistering sun in Belfast
Earlier in Belfast, a small feeder parade passed the Ardoyne shops in the north of the city at 09:00 BST without issue.
There was a small police presence at the shops, which in the past was the scene of parade-related trouble.
It is not permitted on the same route this evening, but the return parade will take place on Sunday morning.
The Orange lodges are accompanied by marching bands and supported by tens of thousands of spectators, many dressed up in colourful costume for the occasion.
This year’s events are concentrated at 18 locations, with members travelling to converge with neighbouring lodges at the nearest host venue.
This year marks the 335th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, which took place outside Drogheda in what is now the Republic of Ireland.
The battle ended in victory for the Protestant King William III over his Catholic father-in-law, the deposed King James II.
Terence (L) and Mildred (R) with their dog Alfie enjoying the Coleraine parade
In Coleraine, Terence and Mildred McAle were enjoying the “glorious weather” watching the parade with their dog Alfie.
“We enjoy the bands and the spectacle,” said Mr McAle.
Mrs McAle added: “It’s our culture and I enjoy a great day out. The grandchildren love it as their daddy is parading.”
Eleventh night bonfires
On Friday night, hundreds of bonfires were lit to mark Eleventh night – a tradition observed by many unionist communities on the eve of the Twelfth.
The bonfires commemorate the actions of King William III’s supporters in 1690, who lit fires across the countryside to welcome him and guide him to the battle site.
Most Eleventh night bonfires pass without incident, but some are controversial due to their height or location, or because they contain symbols considered offensive.
This year a bonfire in south Belfast caused concern because of the presence of asbestos on the site, and the fact it was close to an electricity substation which supplies power to two nearby hospitals.
The bonfire, between the Donegall Road and the Westlink, was lit on Friday night after police confirmed they would not assist in removing it.
