Ireland started the 2019 Under-17 European Championships as they finished the 2018 edition, shrouded in controversy, yet head coach Colin O'Brien accepted that the decision to let a late Greece goal stand was probably the right one, or within the rulebook at least.
Standing on the verge of an opening victory at Tallaght Stadium and with all five minutes of injury time elapsed, one final push from Greece led to a dramatic equaliser, which saw the game end 1-1.
But as Dimitrios Arsenidis slotted the ball past Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, the assistant referee behind him - and in the line of sight of the keeper - was waving for an offside, which would ultimately be overruled by the referee who awarded the goal.
The visitors’ equaliser turned out to be the last kick of the game as both games in Group A ended 1-1, which leaves all four teams on one point going into the second round of matches.
"By the rule, it’s a goal," said head coach O’Brien, speaking to RTÉ Sport after the game.
"The rule is that our player deliberately played the ball and it went into the path of the player, so that means the player is back in the second part of the play.
"By all accounts he was in an offside position as the ball dropped in the box but as our player made a deliberate action, that’s the ruling, then the player in the offside position is live in the play.
Ireland, of course, ended the 2018 event in England in controversy as they were knocked out in the quarter-finals in a penalty shoot-out against the eventual winners, the Netherlands, with goalkeeper Jimmy Corcoran sent off for moving off his line for a penalty save, which was then re-taken.
Ireland could not right the perceived wrongs on that occasion as there was no coming back from the defeat, however, this time around, it is just the first game of the tournament and O’Brien’s side have a chance to bounce back straight away in Monday’s match against the Czech Republic.
And O’Brien admits that he won’t dwell on the decision but will rather start planning for that next game, taking place at Waterford’s RSC on Monday evening, kick-off 7pm.
"You have to draw a line under it," said O’Brien. "It’s just a small knock. It’s the first game.
"We’ll go back to the hotel tonight and start planning for the Czech Republic and going to Waterford."
The game itself is one that Ireland should have won, according to O’Brien who believed that his side dominated and created the best goal-scoring chances, especially in the opening 35 minutes of the game.
Ireland created several chances in that period of domination with Joe Hodge, Charlie McCann, Festy Ebsoele and Matt Everitt all going close to breaking the deadlock.
"I think we deserved to win the game," said O’Brien. "For the opening 35 minutes we were excellent and I thought we could have been a goal up at half time, possibly even two.
"I thought we defended brilliantly, we defended the box well and we denied them goal-scoring opportunities.
"A little bit scrappy at times in the second half, from both teams with a bit of nervousness, but that is to be expected."
The goal, of course, did arrive and it was a deserved one for man of the match Matt Everitt who wreaked havoc all night, hugging that right flank throughout the game.
The Brighton and Hove Albion youngster was on hand to stab the ball home in the 58th minute in what appeared to be a match-winning strike.
"We dominated possession and looked a threat on both flanks and there was a calmness about the team," added O'Brien.
"There is potential in this group and we have good players.
"Matt deservedly got his man of the match award and it shows, we have a real threat in this team. And scoring from a set-piece is also a real asset to have."
"And when they had to dig in they could, which was pleasing."
So on to Monday as Ireland face the Czech Republic, while Greece take on Belgium in the other match.
And O’Brien is convinced that it is all to play for, while expecting the group outcome to go right to the final round of matches.
"If you look at the results today, nobody has jumped out of the blocks and we go to Waterford on Monday. Usually these group games go to the final game.
"The group is all to play for."
