In the neurotic world of Irish football, those who worship in the League of Ireland’s church often feel as marginalised as The Free Presbyterians, believing theirs to be the one true God while raging against the dissenters, the pagans, who assert that “Ireland has no league” — unlike the blessed Swedes and Austrians.

That Giovanni Trapattoni would follow that infamous insult by picking five League of Ireland graduates for the final game of his Ireland tenure just 24 hours later only added to the sense of persecution. Yet, motivated by a desire to excuse his failings, Trapattoni was happy to put up with a localised squabble if it meant the protection of his legacy.

“Ironically, part of that legacy is that he picked more players