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Everything appeared to be going according to the script for the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday as they fell behind, battled back, made life hard for themselves, and just about got over the line, only to be stung late on.

As much as the point away to Sweden has lifted the mood in the Republic of Ireland camp, there is a herd of elephants in the room that they have yet to budge.

Positivity was the buzz word repeatedly uttered as the Republic of Ireland kept their World Cup qualification hopes alive by picking up a crucial point. But it could have been more.

There was a moment earlier this week when Ciaran Clark paused before revealing that the Republic of Ireland didn’t have a plan to deal with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. It felt strange for them not to have that locked down so close to a crucial World Cup qualifier against Sweden.

It may always struggle for coverage in a crowded sporting market, but the League of Ireland is starting to feel like it finally knows its place and what it can deliver.

Uninspiring was the only way to describe the Republic of Ireland’s 2-0 friendly victory over Poland and they clearly have work to do before key World Cup qualifiers.

When results were going well for the Republic of Ireland, the motto repeated by manager Giovanni Trapattoni, through his garbled English, was that it would be foolish to change a winning team.

Take one of Edinburgh’s famed ghost tours and you will be brought along the cobble-stoned Royal Mile, where tales of cannibals, graverobbers and banshees will test your limit of believability.

Even though it feels slightly odd to be welcoming the start of a new season in March, there is no shortage of excitement, or storylines, to get the Airtricity League kicked off.

It is not quite time to play ‘The Final Countdown’ as the build-up to Euro 2012 has yet to crank up, and that is something that the Republic of Ireland will be pleased about.