Dion Fanning: Kenny's system had Ireland preparing to fail from start

While Kenny has done much to suggest there could be a future worth believing in, there comes a time when the future becomes the present and then there has to be a reckoning

END OF THE LINE? Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny reacts after his side's defeat in the UEFA EURO 2024 Championship qualifying group B match between Greece and Republic of Ireland at the OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Ireland’s very first contribution to the game in Athens was an exciting one. Adam Idah stood over the ball at kick off, rolled it back to Evan Ferguson who, with his first touch of the game, drilled a low guided pass out to Matt Doherty. It was an audacious moment of skill and it would only be a slight exaggeration to say that this was as good as it got for Ireland.

There was the exhilaration of a Nathan Collins equaliser after VAR overruled the assistant referee but Ireland conceded early goals in both halves and the issues seemed deeper even than this loss. Ultimately this was another defeat for Ireland and one which it was impossible to take any consolation from.