After Ireland failed to secure a place at the European Championships in England on Tuesday evening, Kathleen McNamee joined OTB Sports to consider this latest disappointment.
At one point in this qualifying campaign, Vera Pauw's Ireland appeared ready to seriously challenge for what would be the country's first appearance at a major international tournament.
With the exception of a disappointing draw away to Greece, the first five outings had resulted in four wins. That top seeds Germany would likely win all of their games left Ireland's fate in their own hands.
In two games against the Germans then and a trip to their closest rivals Ukraine, a positive result in Kyiv was all that Ireland required. They lost 1-0. Although qualification remained a possibility right up to this evening's final game, the circumstances proved too complex as Ireland were defeated 3-1 by Germany in Tallaght.
"There are going to be questions around this qualifying campaign because I think we had the power there to qualify," suggested journalist Kathleen McNamee in conversation with OTB Sports post-match.
"It is ridiculous that we are sitting here after another year has gone looking at a tournament we could be at and saying, 'Next year, then we'll have our chance.'
"You can see it clearly too where we are falling down. It comes down to confidence and the fact that we don't seem to play very well in games where we are thought to be the stronger side."
Overwhelmingly, McNamee believes that Ireland's available talent is sufficient for the team to compete at major tournaments.
While the development of players and the pathways open to them requires greater work, Pauw's tenure has instilled a certain degree of confidence.
"It is kind of frustrating when you see the way that we played tonight compared to the games away to Ukraine and Greece," McNamee noted regretfully.
"Vera Pauw said it herself, we left this in Kyiv. I think, to be honest, we left it behind us a little bit earlier than that against Greece. It is so frustrating to see us play like we did against Germany but not do it against someone like Ukraine.
"I think there is a lot there to build on and I hope that Pauw is given the resources she needs. She clearly doesn't want to leave and I think she probably is the best option to take us forward."
You can watch Kathleen McNamee give a full breakdown of the tonight's Ireland performance and how the future is looking here
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