Ireland have reached a point where very few believe Kenny can turn it around

That said, no one who was engrossed by the opening 45 minutes of this clash could dispute that the players were fully committed to the cause.

UNDER PRESSURE: Ireland's Manager Stephen Kenny dejected. Pic Credit ©INPHO/Evan Treacy

Eight hours before this absorbing but ultimately deflating contest kicked off, the FAI sent an email to supporters on its subscribers’ list with a simple message in its title: “This is it.”

Several meanings could be extracted from their marketing of a match that did not require a hard sell, despite the sense of foreboding.