Despite defeat Ireland fired a warning shot fired at group rivals in their quest to qualify

Defiant in defeat, the Republic of Ireland sent out a warning shot to group rivals, the Netherlands, as they battled bravely, but ultimately lost 1-0 to France at the Aviva Stadium.

Shooting blanks against the World Cup finalists, perhaps, but loud and attention grabbing all the same, and if the Dutch are to take one of the two automatic places at next summer's Euro 2024 tournament, they will have to go through Stephen Kenny’s side and earn their place in Germany.

Both Ireland and the Netherlands have lost to Didier Deschamps' side in the opening two games of the campaign, and it is already looking as though France will move clear and qualify with a bit to spare in this eight-game shoot-out.

Monday night lights at Lansdowne Road for Ireland’s first taste of Euro activity in front of a packed-out stadium, and while they left empty handed, the departing crowd exited the arena, heads high, hearts full of hope.

Detractors, doubters, day-trippers, die-hards; there was a collective apprehension going into this opener against a side who have contested the last two World Cup finals – losing on penalties to Argentina in December, while lifting the coveted Cup in 2018.

The fear factor added to the intrigue as Ireland took to the pitch, and while things started brightly for the home side, that moment in the eighth minute when Randal Kolo Muani burst through on goal, put the team, and the crowd, on high alert for the remaining 80-odd minutes.

But neither the battering nor the barrage arrived en masse, and it was not due to any sort of French ennui but rather a well-organised, energetic and enthusiastic display from the home side.

Not to say that Ireland were equals in attack – set-piece balls were really the only route to goal in the first