The Great Siege of Gibraltar lasted three years, seven months and 12 days. Last night's version at the Aviva Stadium felt almost as long.
It took a deeply frustrating 51 minutes and 54 seconds for Ireland to break the rock - and Mikey Johnston's first international goal was hardly a thing of beauty.
But, by God, how it was welcomed. Only once before had Gibraltar made it to half-time in a European qualifier without conceding - that was back in 2019. And, yes, it happened against Ireland.
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After the events of Athens last Friday night - a shocking set-back for the team and for Stephen Kenny in terms of performance - the last thing that Ireland needed was a scoreless first half against one of Europe's last real minnows.
Yet so it transpired. Aimless ball followed aimless ball into a well protected box and the visitors lapped it up.
Finally, a free kick on the edge of the box, Will Smallbone's free ricocheted off two defenders and Johnston was gifted a tap-in.
It wasn't exactly the case of floodgates duly opening, but more goals did follow.
Skipper for the night James McClean could finally relax into his 100th cap and he provided the ammunition for Evan Ferguson to double the lead, then Adam Idah got off the mark at this level in the dying moments - and after a Mexican Wave had grabbed the attention of most of the by-now relieved crowd.
Eventually every Irish manager's job becomes a kind of blood sport, a question of how long he can hold on. Athens certainly loosened Kenny's grip on the job and, with the big two in the group to come in September, it remains to be seen if a more feel-good second half at the Aviva will provide the spark that is so desperately required.
"We all knew what we wanted," said Ferguson. "We wanted to try and do that in the first game but obviously that didn't happen.
"We had a bad day against Greece. It was tough. No team is easy.
"From a fans’ point of view, looking at it, you’d think it was a must-win but they were good. With the formation they played, they were good at it. We just needed to grind them down but it worked tonight. We had to stay patient and try to work it.
"I think we have been like that opposition (Gibraltar) before, trying to sit in and try and defend like that. But luckily it was us tonight and we got the three points.
"We just need to learn from the other day. We need to bounce back. Listen, we’ll try to qualify. We need to go for the highest standards and see what happens.
"I'll just go and relax now and get my focus back over the next few weeks."
Ferguson says some of that downtime will be spent back home in Bettystown - well, for a week or two anyway. "And then I will be gone," he smiled.
When he comes back to Brighton he will have real expectations on his shoulders. That's what 10 goals in his breakthrough season, including six in the Premier League, does for a lad who - remember - is still only 18.
"I think they've been a mad six months, they've gone very quickly," he said. "Definitely I wouldn’t change it, it's been good."
And, with those Brighton goals, he can also reflect on his first couple for his country at senior level. He enjoyed nodding home from McClean's cross.
"Growing up I used to watch him," Ferguson said. "Seeing him and playing alongside him tonight, he’s the one that provides the assists. He’s a great guy who has done a lot for me since coming into the camp.
"I don’t think it’s more special than the first one (against Latvia in March). I think the first one is always going to be the first one. You can’t take that one away."
