The Republic of Ireland women's team are preparing for a first ever appearance at the World Cup thanks to a brilliant, barrier-breaking 2022.
Vera Pauw's charges held their nerve when the pressure was at its most extreme to get over the line and book a ticket to the finals in Australia and New Zealand.
They'll face a huge challenge once they get there having been drawn against co-hosts Australia, Canada and Nigeria, but for now they're entitled to savour and reflect on a memorable achievement.
We picked out five key moments that made 2022 the year of Pauw's tigers.
1. BUILDING SQUAD DEPTH AT THE PINATAR CUP
In February Pauw named a 27-player squad for the Pinatar Cup, an eight-team friendly tournament that saw Ireland beat Poland 2-1, lose 1-0 to Russia and then defeat Wales 1-0 to finish third overall.
The wins were nice, but this was all about building towards April's massive World Cup qualifier against Sweden. Megan Campbell came back into the Ireland fold for the first time in a year and a half, Shelbourne's Abbie Larkin received a maiden senior call-up and Chloe Mustaki also made a return following a two-year injury-forced hiatus.
"Developing all of the players is part of our journey and makes us stronger overall with more options in every position that we know that we can rely on," Pauw said at the time. "Our intention was always to use this week to work hard on what we will need to call on when we play Sweden in our next World Cup qualifier in April."
A productive camp would serve the Irish well for the trip to Gothenburg.
2. A STEELY SWEDISH STATEMENT
Ireland's reputation as a remarkably resilient side has been earned on evenings such as the 1-1 draw at the Gamla Ullevi Stadium. Sweden were ranked No 2 in the world at the time. They only needed a point to seal World Cup qualification but they were desperate to win in front of over 12,000 expectant fans.
They ran into a green wall, with goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan inspired. Katie McCabe silenced the home crowd when her deflected effort put the underdogs 1-0 up just before the break, and though Kosovare Aslanni finally boke the Irish resistance with 11 minutes to play, Pauw's charges held on to take a crucial point.
Having plundered a 2-1 in Finland the previous October, this was further evidence that Ireland were making serious strides forward - and more proof of a greater depth of quality. Mustaki made her competitive debut and didn't put a foot wrong.
"It's another point on our way to qualify for a World Cup," said McCabe afterwards. "We've got three more massive games, so we're another step ahead but all of our focus now is on Georgia in June. We're fully focused on the job in hand and hopefully we'll get there."
3. PAUW'S GAMBLE PAYS OFF
Pauw made a big call to bring her squad to Turkey for a nine-day training camp in the run-up to the June qualifier against Georgia. It meant using up Ireland's budget for later in the year, but the manager pushed for it on the simple premise that if Ireland failed to make the World Cup, what use would the money be in a barren autumn anyway?
Ireland went to Antalya and played the Philippines in a warm-up match. They subsequently annihilated Georgia 9-0.
With all due respect to the Georgians, Ireland would have won that game if they'd done seven Harry Ramsden challenges in a row the week beforehand. The real benefit was in getting players together for an extra chunk of time, just after the club season had ended.
That was a wise call by Pauw, and one that would benefit the Girls in Green once the campaign came to the boil.
4. LILY AGG SINKS THE FINNS
It often happens in successful campaigns that certain player emerge from the fringes to seize their moment. In September, Lily Agg did just that.
Finland came to Tallaght needing to win to put themselves in the driving seat to nab second spot in the group and with it a place in the World Cup play-offs. Ireland knew that three points would guarantee them second.
Agg started on the bench but came on in the 41st minute to replace the injured Ruesha Littlejohn. At that stage Ireland were fortunate to still be on level terms after the Finns had spurned some golden chances to break the deadlock. But nine minutes into the second half, Agg won the game for Ireland when she steered a fine header beyond visiting keeper Tinja-Riikka Korpela.
Brighton-born Agg later dedicated the goal to her late grandmother, who hailed from Cobh in Co Cork.
"She's not here with us but she'll definitely be watching over me," said Agg. "I think she has every step of the way. I've had nothing but great luck and I owe that to her."
5. REACHING PARADISE IN GLASGOW
Having beaten Slovakia 1-0 in their last qualifying group game, Ireland went straight to round two of the play-offs where they faced Scotland at Hampden Park.
Elsewhere results went Ireland's way so Pauw and her coaching staff were aware victory would send them straight to the finals and avoid the extra hurdle of February's inter-confederation play-offs in New Zealand.
On a tense night, two moments of calm settled it: first Denise O'Sullivan froze time in the middle of the park to execute a defence-splitting pass; then Amber Barrett combined determination with composure to poke the winner beyond Lee Alexander.
Barrett grabbed the black armband on her left bicep in tribute to the 10 people who lost their lives in the explosion at the service station in Creeslough, Co Donegal a few days earlier. It was an extraordinary moment.
Scotland rallied, the Irish saw it out and the final whistle was greeted with an explosion of joy as many of the players' families and loved ones spilled down from the stands to celebrate.
"I truly mean this from deep down in my heart that we stand on the shoulders of the previous generations," said Pauw after her team wrote themselves into Irish sporting history.
