It's just over five years since the then 18-year-old Mark Kennedy stole all the headlines with a spectacular strike for Millwall at Highbury which helped put Arsenal out of the FA Cup.
A couple of months after that third-round replay Liverpool manager Roy Evans made the winger the most expensive teenager in British football. However, Kennedy's switch to the club he supported passionately as a boy was to end the brightest spell in his club career - at least until his arrival at Joe Royle's Manchester City last year.
At international level, where he has been brought on by his former boss at Millwall, Mick McCarthy, he has made steady progress. Even at 23 his 25 senior caps already place him in the top half of the appearances table for the current Republic squad. And the last time he pulled on the green jersey, on that nightmarish evening in Skopje, he probably had the game of his career.
Afterwards McCarthy, often criticised for loyalty to a youngster who couldn't hold down a first-team place at Liverpool or later Wimbledon, found himself being pilloried for hauling him off in the closing stages of a crucial qualifier.
Asked about his troubles at club level Kennedy has consistently said: "Let the football do the talking." Yet it wasn't until he linked up with Royle at Maine Road that he found a sympathetic ear.
"There was never a time when I doubted my own ability and I can honestly say that I don't know why things didn't go better for me over the past few years, particularly at Wimbledon where I really expected to get into the team on a regular basis."
Clashes with managers would look like the obvious explanation. However, Kennedy insists that he has had a good relationship with coaches, and pays particular tribute to Royle.
"He's been great to me. When they came in for me he didn't really have to sell me anything about the club because City are such a big outfit. But even so, nothing can prepare you for things up there, the club is incredibly big and the fans are amazing," Kennedy says. "And I'm enjoying my football there which means I'm happy . . . for a change," he adds, with the hint of a grin. "I'm back doing what suits me best, getting out wide, running at people and looking to create chances and it's going well.
"As time goes on people cop on to you a bit and so you have to vary it, so maybe recently Joe's been saying to me to look to cut inside a bit more, but I love being out there wide."
He has thrived on this gameplan, scoring six goals in 32 starts and making key contributions for others. He has helped City to stay firmly in the hunt for a return to the Premiership.
However, as he relaxes in the Republic of Ireland's team hotel, his mind is on tonight's friendly against the Czech Republic. "For me here this week the priority is to do my best for Ireland and I'm hoping that the fact I'm playing regularly at club level is going to have a big knock-on effect on my international football. I hope there's a lot better for me to come on the international front . . . and for everybody."
