2018 UEFA European Under-17 Championships
A second successive year in this tournament for Colin O'Brien achieved the same result - a quarter-final finish - but they did push the eventual champions, Netherlands, all the way in a penalty shoot-out.
Ireland started the campaign in Bulgaria as their Qualifying Round games saw them beat Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, and Ukraine - scoring 12 goals and only conceding once - to top Group 11.
The Elite Round brought them to Poland, where Adam Idah continued his goalscoring heroics (he scored eight overall in qualifying) to over North Macedonia in their opener before also beating Georgia and Poland.
Passage through to the finals tournament in England was secured. However, it wasn't a great start in Loughborough University Stadium as they fell to a 2-0 defeat to Belgium.
Ireland needed to respond and they did exactly that with a Troy Parrott goal edging them past Denmark in a fiesty encounter. They had several chances to increase their lead but the one goal proved to be enouugh.
Then, for a second year in a row, Ireland recorded a group win over Bosnia & Herzegovina with goals from Parrott and Idah sealing three much-needed points. They were through to the quarter-finals.
A stern test with Netherlands was always expected, but Ireland matched them for physicality, effort and technique in an entertaining first half. After the break, the Dutch took the lead before Parrott hit back two minutes later to send the game into a penalty shoot-out.
Idah failed to convert his spot-kick, while Parrott, Max Murphy, Jason Knight, and Callum Thompson all scored but goalkeeper Jimmy Corcoran was harshly dismissed as Ireland bowed out.
Republic of Ireland Squad
Kian Clarke (Shamrock Rovers), Jimmy Corcoran (Cherry Orchard), Max Murphy (Stoke City), Kameron Ledwidge (Southampton), Oisin McEntee (Newcastle United), Nathan Collins (Stoke City), Jason Knight (Derby County), Callum Thompson (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Barry Coffey (Celtic), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Troy Parrott (Tottenham Hotspur), Sean Brennan (Southampton), Marc Walsh (Swansea City), Ray O'Sullivan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Adam O'Reilly (Preston North End), Jordan McEneff (Arsenal), Tyriek Wright (Aston Villa), Luca Connell (Bolton Wanderers), Ryan Cassidy (Watford), Conor Grant (Sheffield Wednesday)
Results
Republic of Ireland 0-2 Belgium
Republic of Ireland 1-0 Denmark
Republic of Ireland 2-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina
Republic of Ireland 1-1 Netherlands (4-5 pens)