But since then they have grown in confidence and stature.
Their equaliser against Germany on Wednesday might have come very late in the day, but the Republic players had refused to lie down to Germany.
Undaunted by the reputation of the three-times winners who had trounced Saudi Arabia 8-0, they kept battering away and ultimately deserved their big break in injury-time.
Without that goal Mick McCarthy would have been the one getting a battering, a written one.
There are some Irish journalists waiting for their chance to stick the knife in.
They are annoyed that during the height of the Keane affair the manager chose to speak, not to them, but to one English newspaper.
Some say that, although Keane did not apologise during his television interview, he looked sorry and should therefore have been invited back by the manager.
However, Keane's offensive remarks, which triggered the whole sorry saga, were not made on television.
Instead of calling in a TV crew, one phone call could have sorted the mess, for the duration of the World Cup at least.
Those ready to give McCarthy a pounding in print are being made to wait a little longer than most of them had initially anticipated.
Keane may not be on the bus, but the Republic of Ireland boys have done the country proud so far.
The destination next week could be South Korea as they have every chance of a place in the last 16.
Surely, manager McCarthy should be congratulated, not castigated, for that.