VIDEO: All Ireland heads for France after stunning Euro qualification

Republic of Ireland 2 Bosnia-Herzegovina 0, Ireland win 3-1 on aggregate: Mission accomplished and, surprisingly for Ireland — where, as football folk know, we’re far more accustomed to doing things the hard way — with even a bit to spare.

Fittingly, it was two goals from Jon Waters, arguably the team’s best player over the whole qualification campaign, which means that the Republic has reached its third European Championship finals and will join our friends in the north to ensure an all-island representation in France next summer.

There were fantastic scenes on the pitch after the final whistle, as Martin O’Neill, Roy Keane and the players showed their unalloyed delight, and the ecstatic supporters responded in kind.