After taking their first point in Group Six last night, McIlroy believes they can look forward with confidence.

‘‘If we get six points from our next two games, it will keep the pot boiling a little bit,’’ said the Irish boss.

‘‘That has to be the target. I know it is a big ask but it is not an impossible task.’’

McIlroy’s side was defensively sound against Ukraine, which was remarkable considering midfielders Steve Lomas and Kevin Horlock filled the full-back roles.

They linked up alongside Aaron Hughes and George McCartney in an untried but successful formation.

‘‘The back four were magnificent when you think we had two midfield players in there,’’ said McIlroy.

What will be nagging McIlroy in the coming months is their inability to find the target.

This was the fifth successive game the Irish had failed to score despite a number of different attacking formations.

McIlroy said: ‘‘It has always been a problem for us scoring goals but the effort I got from the lads was 100%.

‘‘You need a goal to win a game and we are not scoring. It is just not happening.

‘‘With a little bit of a break we could have got one but it was not to be.

‘‘I set my team out to win the game. I picked a team that must have surprised a lot of people.

‘‘It was a very positive line-up and the players gave me everything they could.’’

Wimbledon midfielder Michael Hughes probably had the best chance of the match for the Irish.

He tried to pick out Damien Johnson rather than try his luck on goal.

McIlroy was sympathetic. ‘‘Michael got caught in two minds,’’ he said.

‘‘I think with more games under his belt that would have been a shot at goal. He did marvellously well considering it was his first 90 minutes of the season.’’

Johnson and Keith Gillespie gave Ukraine a number of headaches with a willingness to run at the opposition.

However, Johnson limped off late in the game after picking up a hamstring injury.

McIlroy said: ‘‘Ukraine are strong and physical and we matched them in that department.

‘‘We wanted a passionate start, playing at a good tempo and we got it with discipline as well.

‘‘We made them change their tactics to stop Gillespie and Johnson, so we must have been doing something right.

‘‘The players are disappointed that we didn’t get a victory and I am sad we couldn’t finish it off.

‘‘However we have got something from a difficult start and are now up and running.’’

Ukraine coach Leonid Buryak said: ‘‘I am very disappointed because many of my players failed to fulfil their objectives.

‘‘I came here looking for a win and I know we can play a lot better than this.’’