Perhaps Robbie Brady best sums up how far this Ireland team has come through the Euro 2016 qualification phase.
After coming in at left-back for the 1-1 draw against Poland in March, the Norwich player was somewhat at fault for Slawomir Peszko’s opening goal and came in for a lot of criticism following the game.
As did the Ireland team at certain times during the rollercoaster ride of a qualifying campaign.
Three months later and, after a 1-1 draw with Scotland at home, it looked like Ireland would not be jetting off to France next summer. Brady would not be fulfilling what he calls his “main goal ever”.
Fast forward another five months and how dramatically things have changed. That dream has now become a reality, largely thanks to the priceless away goal which came from the left boot of the Baldoyle man in Zenica.
That main goal ever will now be achieved at the age of just 24.
“Growing up it’s been my main goal ever to play in front of the fans back here and to be able to achieve something for everybody that’s ever been there for me is just out of this world,” the Norwich winger said.
“There’s no way you want to let anyone down, especially these fans who have done all the travelling and come and support us every time we play. You don’t want to let them down first and foremost, as well as your friends and family. It’s a great honour to do this and we’re in a position to do it for everyone else that’s watching.”
It is clear to see how much this Ireland squad cares – just look back at the celebrations after last night’s final whistle.
Or, perhaps, look back again at Brady’s celebration as he emerges from the Bosnian fog, sprinting towards the corner of Ireland fans in the Stadion Bilino polje.
See those glistening droplets on his face? Those are tears. That’s what that moment meant to the man who grew up playing for St Kevin’s Boys.
“”It’s different because I never had a feeling like that and I knew as soon as it went in that it could be important for us to give us that little bit coming home. It was probably one of the strangest feelings I’ve ever had in my life but I was exhausted after I celebrated to be honest! I just soaked up everything in the moment. You hear people talk about how scoring in that moment feels so good but you don’t actually know until you put one in the net in a big, big game.”
Brady's celebration was notable last night too as he sprinted towards the Ireland bench after Jonathan Walters beat Asmir Begovic to make it 2-0.
There were no tears this time though – he just didn’t have the energy to run the length of the pitch.
“I was too far away from the celebration and I knew we had a bit to go so I didn’t want to be knackered sprinting into the corner so I was closer to the lads on the bench and I just ran straight into Roy’s path.”
Keane was just 23 when he played every game for Ireland at the 1994 World Cup in the USA. Brady will be just one year older when he puts on the green jersey in France. It was a moment for the two former Manchester United players to savour.
As for who he’d like those games to be against Brady is staying in the moment.
“I don’t know, I haven’t even had time to think about it. My head’s still thumping after the high of the game so we’ll concentrate on that when it comes around.”
You get the feeling he’ll be counting down the days.
