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

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.

This was an opportunity to keep a slim chance of qualification alive. This was the chance for Stephen Kenny to redeem himself and stave off the sack. This was the night Ireland could beat one of the bonafide big guns for the first time since 2015.

By the end, the overwhelming feeling was one of anticlimax, perhaps just grim acceptance, as the majority of those watching instead wondered: “Is this it?”

Ireland will not be at next summer’s tournament in Germany – barring an unlikely run of results that would enable them to reach a play-off via the Nations League route.

Kenny will be removed from his post – if not in the coming days then at the end of a campaign that can now only be considered a failure. The wait to claim the scalp of a big team will drag on until November’s reverse meeting – although, in all likelihood, far beyond.

The time for thorough postmortems on the Kenny era will arrive soon and his few remaining backers can still justifiably point to a long list of misfortune dating right back to the beginning.

From pandemic problems to a cruel run of injuries, Kenny has seldom had it straightforward. But his record now reads 10 wins and 15 defeats from 36 games, the only notable triumph coming against Scotland, and most importantly it has reached a stage where very few believe he 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.

From the first whistle to the 18th minute Ireland were very, very good. Revved up by a raucous atmosphere, they pressed ferociously and converted their adventure into an early advantage from Adam Idah’s spot kick.

When that lead was undone by a blistering Netherlands counterattack leading to a penalty kick, nearly kept out by under-fire goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, there were fears of Ireland wilting. Except they resumed with intent and, preying on the insecurities of a Dutch defence that got the shakes every time they were pressured, a combative Alan Browne and Chiedozie Ogbene found joy.

There were absolutely no doubts about Ireland’s sense of determination and there were elements of the game plan that were executed perfectly. Well, up to the interval.

Because, as ever, it came down to a story of quality and the inability to react - in this case to predictable Dutch changes. Ronald Koeman’s decision to move to a 4-3-3 at the break afforded the visitors a far greater level of control.

Suddenly those in orange were putting together slick passing moves. The feeling of anxiety that permeated their first 45 evaporated and they were comfortable right up until a late Irish push that never felt relentless.

Yet Kenny was, again, too slow to respond. A Dutch change of system felt inevitable at half time but the Ireland manager looked frozen on the touchline as his team began to be dominated.

It was not until the 72nd minute, all that early impetus long diminished, that a meaningful move was made (James McClean had been hooked for Ryan Manning six minutes earlier in a like-for-like switch).

The move to a four-man defence, affording Ireland an extra body in midfield as John Egan made way, had little impact because the Netherlands were settled.

If that was too little, too late then the 87th-minute introduction of Festy Ebosele and Sinclair Armstrong seemed almost pointless. Effort levels remained high but belief was long gone.

Kenny was seen pacing up and down his technical area as an added time corner was earned and squandered. He looked puzzled when there was a reluctance to pepper the Dutch penalty area for the next five minutes.

By the end there was no unfiltered outpouring of anger, merely a smattering of boos from the fans. Instead there was that sense of acceptance: we are where we are - well off the standard required.

The automatic route to Germany is shut, the convoluted Nations League door remains mildly ajar. But only the most ardent Kenny supporter will have left Lansdowne Road convinced he can still produce a successful team.

Time appears to be up. For Kenny, this was it.