Martin O’Neill deal a leap of faith from the FAI

If, as recently as the beginning of March this year, it had emerged that the FAI were planning to offer a contract extension to Martin O’Neill, the news would have occasioned little in the way of contentious debate.

A rewarding 2016 had seen his team leave the playing fields of France with heads held high after their appearance in the Euros had provided, in that celebrated victory over Italy in Lille, another memorable night to rank with the win against Germany and the play-off elimination of Bosnia which had so distinguished and decorated a successful first qualification campaign with the Derryman at the helm.

And, by the time the year was out, the picture appeared even rosier, with an historic victory over Austria in Vienna cementing Ireland’s position at the top of World Cup qualifying Group D.