A fixture which had loomed as ominously as a health check for a fat man was in the end completed like a routine errand.

Ireland scored early and might have scored often if their luck was in. Yet it's been over 700 minutes and 17 goals since one of our strikers scored a goal for us.

Richard Dunne has scored more than Robbie Keane and we have completed the away segment of our programme without encountering a banana skin. Eight games, no defeats, top of the table. Life is good.

Mick McCarthy entertained the press al fresco on a sunlit balcony in the stands. The afternoon air had been thick with the breathy warnings of Cassandras who insisted we were doomed without a Keane in the side, that this elegant town was beginning to smell a little like Skopje, that heads would surely roll for this.

Not for the first time on this campaign, McCarthy's courage was vindicated. The whiteness of his smile caught the evening sun.

"It's a job well done by us. They are a very difficult team to play against, well organised and well coached. As you saw against Holland they are tough. Therefore I think we went about our business professionally and quietly and won deservedly in the end."

The goals had come, almost inevitably at this stage from odd sources. Dunne steamed in for the first and Mattie Holland swept in his second goal of the campaign, only marginally less sweet than that which he scored in Lisbon. McCarthy sang an old song.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again the biggest compliment I can pay is that we don't miss Roy as much as we might when Mattie plays. I thought Mattie and Mark [Kinsella] were excellent tonight. They were in there against three and they dug it out time after time."

There were other successes. It was an afternoon when Damien Duff, still exiled from his favoured left-wing spot, caused the opposition seven types of headache. They coped with a dubious cure-all, hacking Duff down every time he started a shimmy. Still, the manager had proven his point again.

"Thank goodness," said McCarthy. "He's not looking for vindication nor I. I thought it was a decision that had to be made, it was as plain as the nose on my face. Robbie is not right.

"He'd got through training before the Portugal game, but Damien came on this evening and he worked their back-four like we haven't done for a while."

Finally, while the employee of the month awards are being handed out, perhaps a mention for white-haired decrepit old Steve Staunton who was also the subject of the daftest question asked at a world cup press conference so far when the Estonian manager was asked to react to Staunton winning his 89th cap. Mick McCarthy didn't need to be asked.

"I'm looking at Steve Staunton, Gary Doherty or Andy O'Brien. One or two thought that Stan, not in his prime now, shall we say couldn't do it. Well I wanted an experienced player alongside Richard Dunne and Steve has slotted in perfectly."

Most disturbing sight of the night perhaps was Niall Quinn signalling to the bench after half an hour or so that his treacherous back had let him down again. The old war horse had given what he had to give. "I hope Niall soldiers on," said McCarthy.

And in summary, before McCarthy goes in search of some sun and a little serenity?

"Two wins and we still have a chance of winning the group. Easy said, I know. Two wins. I could think about that all summer long. Look , we've 11 games away from home unbeaten now. To be sat here with two games left and to be on top of table. We didn't dream it.

"It's still on. If we have everyone fit and are well prepared we can do it. I'll enjoy the summer. I'm looking forward to a game in September that will just be fantastic."

And he goes to his break without a begrudging whisper to be heard.

As for Arno Pijpers, the likeable Dutchman who manages the Estonians, he was gracious and smiling.

"Ireland scored too quickly for us and then we had to make it more open. After 20 minutes I was happy with how we started to play but it was impossible to play the possession game.

"The Irish defence was very strong. As a Dutchman I think now it will be hard for Holland." And on that note, the music ended.