A dream start quickly turned into a nightmare.
After Shane Duffy scored just three minutes into Ireland's qualifier in Georgia, the boys in green retreated and shut up shop in a way that was absolutely mind-boggling, even for Ireland.
After sticking 10 men behind the ball and inviting wave after wave of Georgia attacks, the eventually pulled level and looked by far the better side at the break. The statistics were damning, and Eamon Dunphy was not impressed.
Before the game many were moaning about Dunphy calling for Hoolahan's inclusion yet again, but at least the Norwich man can pass the ball to a teammate, so Wes' name again came up as Dunphy described the Irish players as 'braindead' once they went ahead.
"I can't think of a worse Irish performance, it is shocking" - Eamon is not sparing anyone at half-time #GEOIRL #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/goxzad7BFv
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) September 2, 2017
He's spot on.
In a week where Roy Keane publicly defended Glenn Whelan from the criticism he faces, the Aston Villa midfielder was awful in that first 45, as was his midfielder partner Harry Arter.
The back four looked nervy and punted anything near them as far as they could, while Shane Long up front was chasing shadows.
Whatever the outcome of the match, that first half performance will leave a sour taste in the mouth.
