The journey began on the 5th of September in Belgrade with a 2-2 against table toppers Serbia.
A Seamus Coleman goal was all we needed to get over a tricky Georgia before an expected 3-1 victory in Chisinau.
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Hoolahan's pin point through ball to the feet of James McClean brought us all to our feet in Vienna but from there it went sour.
A 0-0 draw with Wales in March was not a case of two points lost or one pointed gained. It will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Duffy's early goal in Georgia put a smile back on many faces, but Valeri Qazaishvili had other ideas.
A desperate few months for Irish football got even worse as Kolarov's 55th minute strike made it seem as if Russia 2018 was out of reach.
Two games, two wins, six points is a must. "Yes we'll beat Moldova, but Wales away? They don't have Bale... can we do it?"
Hendrick's trojan work on the line. Arter's dummy. The ball fizzed across the penalty area. Comes to McClean.
Irish ecstasy.
Copenhagen on Saturday. Dublin on Tuesday.
We needed two results after the Serbia defeat.
We go again.
Words: Sean O'Regan
