But Mick McCarthy's Republic make their exit from the 2002 World Cup with heads held high.
They were magnificent and, almost, almost, snatched their greatest victory of all.
Losing on penalties was heartbreak, not least for goalkeeper Shay Given.
Earlier in the week, he had recalled diving about his back garden as a 14-year-old, pretending to be goalkeeper Packie Bonner, Ireland's famous sudden-death hero in Italia '90.
That boyhood dream came so close to reality.
The Newcastle United keeper did save one of the Spain's five attempts.
But the Irish scored just two of their five and that, sadly, was that.
This was pure sporting theatre. Drama you just could not script.
The great 2002 World Cup adventure is over for the Irish, but it has been a memorable one.
McCarthy's critics, and there still are some despite this creditable showing, may talk about how much Ireland missed Roy Keane.
But that seems a pointless argument now.