A hearse parked outside Phily Ryan's pub in Nenagh could have been interpreted as a bad omen.
In the event nobody had to be carried across the road to the proprietor's funeral home after dying of shock.
Mr Ryan, meanwhile, discreetly changed from wearing a rather sober looking black coat to a Celtic football club jacket. "I would not like to be seen like this," he explained. With the fires set and the stout, lager and cider flowing, the workers from Carey Glass Ireland who finished their shift as the match began were in a carefree mood. No, none of their number had travelled to Iran. "On our wages?".
Instead, through a mixture of exclamations, expletives and exhortations to Jesus, they lent their moral support to Mick McCarthy's team, helped along by a running commentary from a resident expert.
There was even an attempt to create some rival support. "Come on Iran," Mike Hughes, a former rugby player, shouted.
"You might be big but you are outnumbered," came the fast reply. After that, the Iranian support dwindled to a few remarks on their skill followed by applause for Shay Given's saves.
Meanwhile, in the lounge, where the curtains were drawn against the afternoon light, Paul Meagher's support was being questioned after he committed the sin of being born in England and living there for three years. "I am still being slagged about being a plastic Paddy," he said.
Afterwards, the result was "brilliant" even if the game had been bad, according to Stephen Kennedy. "Jason McAteer was the only one who played the same as the last time."
Mike Hughes had forgotten his earlier aberration: "Iran could have scored a lot more. It is a great result for Ireland. They have gone through, fair deuce to them."