Irish soccer's year in review: 2021 ends in optimism, but patience will only last so long

2021 proved to be a slow burner, the year in which the concept of patience was attached to expectations surrounding the Irish football team

Ireland’s Shane Duffy celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal during the World Cup quualifier against Luxembourg at Stade de Luxembourg in Luxembourg. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

In an era that our lives have been flipped upside down, imagine for a moment Ireland’s World Cup campaign had worked in reverse.

A seven-point return from the opening three qualifiers, followed by two draws and a finish of three straight defeats.