Talking points: Up there with the very worst of Irish horror shows

This 2-1 loss, and the nature of it, makes the next four games academic. It will mean five qualifying campaigns without a major final at the end of it.

DOWN AND NEARLY OUT: Josh Cullen, Jack Taylor and Dara O'Shea of Republic of Ireland react after conceding a goal. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.

Two and done as World Cup ambitions go east

Get out the holiday brochures, check the prices for flights to Spain, Portugal and Greece, because the World Cup in North America is off the table after a disastrous evening in a hot and sweaty Yerevan where the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualification hopes went up in flames.