Nathan Collins hesitant to speak too soon on 'special' Irish set up under Heimir Hallgrímsson

Evidence of solidity, on and off the pitch, is apparent

Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson. Pic: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

So wretched have Ireland’s starts been to recent competitive campaigns that a 1-1 draw ought to be construed as victory.

Optimism, whether or not it's blind, accompanies the beginning of every series of qualifiers. Never mind Ireland haven’t won a match. They haven’t lost either.