Hope survives. So does Steve Staunton, writes Tom Humphries. Irish soccer pronounced dead on Saturday evening rolled back the rock at Lansdowne Road last night. The team may not be hale and hearty but there's a pulse. For now that should be enough.
An Irish goal delivered by Kevin Kilbane in the 62nd minute set the flares burning and the fans singing. True, the Czech Republic equalised almost before the choir had gotten to the chorus but it was an evening when we'd expected brickbats not ballads.
So after three games of the qualifying series Ireland bump along close to the basement of Group D with one point from three games. It doesn't feel like the dawning of a new era but nor does it feel like the end of the Staunton days.
Last night's draw ran against the grain of our poor form. As a rule of thumb any side the Cypriots put five goals past is a side which the Czech Republic expects to beat without altering stride or breaking sweat. Only for a wayward finish by Robbie Keane close to the death last night Ireland would have registered a shock win.
And shocking it would have been. The PA announcer in Lansdowne Road, a man who could be chirpy in the face of any catastrophe jollied the glum faithful along with The Boys Are Back in Town.
Some sympathy had broken out by the time the Irish side peeped out after three days of derision and scoffing. They were greeted by cheering which was lusty and loyal and they responded with some decent football.
There may have been a gap in class between the two sides but that was unavoidable and understandable. What brought reprieve was the commitment of the players on the field and the evidence that Steven Staunton had got things right tactically.
Lee Carsley, snubbed, snubbed and then finally embraced when it looked as if Ireland would have to rob a grave to fill the midfield vacancy drove himself into a crunching tackle of Tomas Rosicky and although he conceded a free kick the sight of it was as welcome as flowers in spring.
Ireland attacked with varying degrees of potency throughout and like the dog walking on its hind legs what impressed wasn't how well they were attacking but the fact that they were attacking at all.
The Czechs looked bemused by the Irish vigour. We looked a little surprised ourselves.