Wales is waking up to like without the 2018 World Cup.
Despite reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2016, Chris Coleman's side lost 1-0 at home to Ireland, and with that any hope they had of heading to Russia next year
Wales Online is one of the most popular websites in the principality. Their match report wasn't holding back when it came to describing Ireland's form.
Ashley Williams gave the ball away to Jeff Hendrick, who allowed Harry Arter to dummy his man and apply a low cross that was duly swept home by McClean.
Ireland predictably parked the bus after that strike, although striker Daryl Murphy was perhaps lucky not to see red after appearing to strike the face of Ramsey.
Ultimately though, Wales didn't display enough attacking verve to truly trouble a stubborn Irish defence, with substitute Ben Woodburn's fizzed cross-cum-shot the closest they came to an equaliser on a desperately disappointing night for Coleman's charges.
Chris Wathan, the Chief Football Writer of Wales Online, wrote about how passionate the home fans were in Cardiff on Monday night. Those fans would leave the stadium with regrets and would envy their Irish counterparts should the team qualify for the World Cup.
The dreams are Ireland’s now, results elsewhere meaning the win secured their place in the play-offs at Wales’ expense.
And it will jar those from the Red Wall who will watch them there. They know they are not a better side, that they won’t light up Russia if they make it there as Wales had done in France.
But, ultimately, they bettered Wales here by claiming the one goal, pouncing on their one opening and stealing that one last shot at finals glory... As the final whistle blew, perhaps the Irish couldn’t have believed their luck.
Goalscorer James McClean was singled out in the same piece. His style of play ("all antagonistic and unrelenting energy") seemingly mirrored Martin O'Neill's tactics on Monday night.
Joe Allen's first-half substitution was also described by Wathan as "seemingly cynically taken out by two Irish players".
McClean’s deliberate nudge into the back of the Stoke midfielder and David Meyler’s follow through left Wales without one of their two key creators.
According to The Guardian, Martin O'Neill's side turned up to Cardiff with one thing solely on their minds. Like against Germany and Italy in recent years, the team pulled off a result when needed most.
How many times have Ireland done this over the years? They came here, unashamedly, for a 1-0 win and their game‑plan went exactly as they hoped: soaking up long spells of pressure, accepting their opponents would have more of the ball but making sure, in telling positions, they did better things with it...
It was typical Irish glory, using all the traits that have helped them on their most illuminating nights, with unlikely heroes such as Shane Duffy and David Meyler, and the Group D permutations always meant one team had to drop out.
The Independent went as far as comparing Monday's result to a robbery in Cardiff.
Eight years ago, the Republic of Ireland had a World Cup play-off stolen from them. Last night, they stole one back. Yet unlike Thierry Henry’s handball in Paris in 2009, this was less grand larceny and more armed burglary: a textbook heist, an object lesson in big-game tactics and big-game courage.
Ireland - technically limited, missing some of their best players and underwhelming for much of the qualification campaign - are two matches away from Russia next summer. Wales - gifted, garlanded and boasting one of the best players in the game - will be watching on television.
Roll on the play-offs!
SEE ALSO: Ireland Made A Mockery Of Their Seeding For The World Cup Qualifiers
