An evening of adequate consequence at Lansdowne Road and even if matters seemed to deteriorate the longer the game went on the football never ceased to fascinate.

An entertaining first period gave way to a second half of musical chairs, players hurtling in and out in an elaborate set dance. For high points there were two novel Irish goals. For troughs a late penalty given against the unfortunate young debutant John O'Shea and of more significance news of Holland's insouciant progress in London.

Mirko Jozic the Croatian manager had kind and gracious words for the hosts, his team had declined since they last met, the Irish had improved. "The Irish team was better in the first half, we think we were better in the second. In the first we stayed too far away from there and closed space too late, we let them develop the game all around us. In the second half we pushed harder."

Mick McCarthy came to the little band room to tell us what he had learned. There was a surreal sense to the visit, one that lingered form the second half of the game. Two weeks before the most important game this team has played in years it was hard to extract the appropriate degree of earnestness from the proceedings.

"Loads of positives in there, far more than negative. I'm not going to be negative but we ended up drawing two all and we could have won it. I diluted the side, I'll take the blame. You make so many changes you lose your shape. "There were plentiful outbreaks of sunshine. Damien Duff and Robbie Keane didn't exactly complement each other but they both played well.

When Clinton Morrisson came on in the second half his exuberant demeanour was matched by a good touch and rewarded with a knock-in goal. McCarthy handed down the marks.

"Keane and Duff played well. I said it wouldn't be a partnership I'd want to play against. I think the Croatians would agree. We lack a target a couple of time, but they ran well.

Is it a shoot out between them? Why? Who's to say Quinny won't be on the bench. Clinton has come on and done ok. He's got an international future ahead of him."

More players auditioning . . . Judgements coming thick and fast.

"Steve Staunton was excellent. I'm so pleased.. There's been doubts raised but he he's come back. Steven Reid justified his selection, did some good things, he'llbe an international football. If he continues to be the same professional nice humble guy he is he'll be a great player. That's thirteen games now unbeaten. As my old chairman used to say "I'd sooner be superstitious with a good side. I've got a good side. The two goals we scored we're very very good goals.

"Outstanding running and passing. We miss a physical presence. I think we need midfielders in the box, We have to do that.

"I can't measure confidence. We played well. If I measure it by performances. I said to them in the dressingroom don't beat yourselves up, that performance was excellence . If we got ragged it was down to me."

And personnel matters for the Dutch game? "Mark Kinsella is gone, Steve Carr maybe. Gary Breen and Kenny Cunningham need to play. The next two weeks will fly, we'll be sat here again in no time picking the bones out of it."

Mick McCarthy rose to leave.

Outside the city was littered with careless, tipsy teenagers. Hard not to envy them The next fortnight of McCarthy's football life will overshadow everything that happened last night. This was a pleasant evening in the summer warmth, September starts with an exam on which the future hinges.