Gary Connaughton reporting from the Aviva Stadium
It was a night in which Ireland needed to secure a result, it never really felt like they were going to get one. That is until David McGoldrick stepped up.
The Sheffield United man got the goal this his performance, and campaign as a whole, has thoroughly deserved.
It wasn't pretty, but we got the point we needed. Here's how we rated the performances on the night.
Darren Randolph - 6
Had nothing of note to do in the opening period except pump long balls up the pitch. Couldn't do much about the goal.
Seamus Coleman - 6
Looked lively going forward in the first few minutes, but that was quickly put to bed by the dominance of the Swiss. Defended well, but was often left exposed by the midfielders.
Made a goal saving header in the second period, but was caught slightly out of position for Switzerland's goal.
Shane Duffy - 8
Dealt with the pressure from the Swiss relatively comfortably in the opening period, making one vital block. He was a man mountain at the back once again, also showing glimpse of ball carrying ability.
Snuffed out every pass that came near him. Unfortunately, he was left in the lurch for the goal after a lazy defensive effort from Jeff Hendrick.
Still, another fantastic performance from the Brighton man.
Richard Keogh - 7
Looked fairly strong alongside Duffy, although he was pulled out of position at times. Did a decent job on Seferovic, who tended to shy away from Duffy and pull onto Keogh.
Enda Stevens - 6
Perhaps lucky not to sent off in the 15th minute, with his high boot catching the head of Mbabu. Was very sloppy in possession, but seemed to grow into the game a bit from there.
He looks a completely different player to the one we see bombing forward at Sheffield United, even if he was Ireland's main attacking threat as they searched for an equaliser. McCarthy needs to figure out how to get the best out of him.
Glenn Whelan - 5
Continuously caught out of position in the opening exchanges, Ireland left the entire middle part of the pitch open for the Swiss. The ease in which opposition players breezed past him was startling at times.
Absolutely rattled the bar as Ireland searched for the equaliser. Despite this, he looked every one of his 35 years tonight.
Conor Hourihane - 6
Looked tidy on the ball in the limited spells of possession Ireland had. Hourihane was strangely our furthest player forward at times when attempting to counterattack. A very quiet night.
Jeff Hendrick - 7
Pulled off a cracking piece of skill to play McClean through early on, he was perhaps the only Irish player showing some inventiveness in the first half. Playing further up the pitch, he showed some lovely quick feet around the edge of the box.
Unfortunately, he was largely at fault for the goal. It was the Burnley man who inconspicuously failed to track Schar's run, allowing him to slot it home.
Callum Robinson - 6
Was largely frozen out of the opening exchanges, with the vast majority of Ireland's play coming down the left flank. Looks wasted out wide at times, and you suspect he would be more effective if given the freedom to roam in the final third.
Replaced after an hour of being starved of possession.
James McClean - 4
Set the tone early on with a few big tackles put in on the opposition and worked hard off the ball, but was a non-factor going forward. Squandered a golden opportunity when played through by Hendrick and looked clumsy in possession.
His severely deflected cross set up McGoldrick's goal, but that doesn't mask the performance as a whole. He somehow stayed on the pitch for 90 minutes, with his effort no longer masks his obvious failings. A change is needed on the left wing.
David McGoldrick - 8
Was left isolated up front for long periods of the opening half, he was given the rather impossible job of holding the ball up under pressure from three or four Swiss defenders. Pulled off a beautiful bit of trickery at the end of the first half, with his cross only a yard away from finding Robinson.
Came up huge at a time when Ireland needed something special, producing a stunning header. Received yet another standing ovation from the Aviva Stadium crowd. We have a new cult hero.
Substitutions
Alan Judge - 6
Made a vital defensive contribution to stop a near certain Swiss goal. Looked fairly lively down the right, but Ireland's lack of possession limited his influence.
Scott Hogan - N/A
Not on long enough to rate.
Alan Browne - N/A
Not on long enough to rate.
