Ireland benefitting from off-field momentum 14 years in the making

It's been just shy of 14 years since the Republic of Ireland last made the play-offs of a major international tournament.

Back then it was a meeting with Iceland, with a place at Euro 2009 up for grabs.

A 1-1 draw at Richmond Park meant the Girls in Green knew they had to score over there, but it wasn't to be as they shipped a 3-0 defeat in Reykjavik on a pitch that has been described as various versions of an ice rink over the years.

The starting team that day included Niamh Fahey and Áine O'Gorman, while defender Louise Quinn was also in the squad.

While there was disappointment at the time, there was a sense that the game was heading in the right direction. However, since that setback, hope has gradually been replaced by frustration as campaign after campaign has fallen by the wayside.

It makes the game on Thursday at Tallaght such a massive opportunity, and the three players that were involved at the Laugardalsvollur Stadium back in 2008 will be acutely aware of this.

Ten years ago qualification for Euro 2013 started so well, but five defeats on the spin - including losses to Wales and Scotland - put paid to Ireland's hopes. Four years later, the campaign never really got going as an early defeat to Thursday's opponents set things off on the wrong foot.

The most disappointing run was definitely the one for the last European Championships, where a freak own goal away to Ukraine cost the side a play-off place, when a draw would have been enough.

World Cup first on the line

The fact that it's a World Cup play-off opportunity up for grabs makes the prize even more enticing as the national team's record previously has been poor, having never finished in the two top in a qualifying group.

The attempt for the 2011 finals in Germany