Boss Brian Kerr’s side were forced to settle for a point that day, with the two they were denied ultimately preventing them from going into the return clash with a two-point cushion to the rest of Group Four.

Instead, Ireland are fourth as they trail group leaders France and the second-placed Israelis by a point, albeit having played a game less, while they also have an inferior goal difference to third-placed Switzerland.

In terms of qualifying for next summer’s World Cup finals, the match in Dublin is seen as a pivotal one for both teams, but with Spurs striker Keane declaring: “We’re quietly confident.

“In playing Israel at home, we would like to get one back on them because when we went over there we deserved to win the game, but they scored in the last minute.

“We know at Lansdowne Road we need to get a good result to take into the game against the Faroe Islands [on June 8].

“That is going to be a tough game, but then any game away from home is tough.”

Irish supporters may scoff at Keane’s comments, but the unfancied Faroes only lost 2-0 at home to France earlier in the campaign, spurning a number of chances and not conceding the decisive second goal until 17 minutes from time.

And of course, who could forget one of the Faroes’ more famous results in September 2002 when they were 2-0 up on Scotland inside 12 minutes in former manager Berti Vogts’ first competitive game in charge, with the goals scored by primary school teacher John Petersen.

Paul Lambert, who is to manage Livingston after hanging up his playing boots with Celtic on Sunday when the Bhoys played a testimonial game against Ireland for Jackie McNamara, was Scotland captain that day.

Lambert, not normally an outspoken figure, is known to have employed the hairdryer treatment at half time to inspire a comeback that started with a goal on the hour from the midfielder, and culminated with an equaliser from Barry Ferguson six minutes from time.

When asked for his thoughts on how Ireland should combat a tricky trip to the Faroes, Lambert replied: “My advice? Don’t be two-nothing down within 12 minutes!

“Ireland are going to be playing on the new park [in Torshavn] so that will help them, but it doesn’t matter where you go in world football, you have to go and work really hard to get something.

“The Faroes will have nothing to lose and Ireland will have everything to lose. Ireland will be expected to win.

“It will be very, very tough, but as they are playing in a better stadium with a better park than the one we played on [in Toftir], it will help them a little bit.

“But Ireland have enough class players in there to win that game anyway.”