Against Denmark on Saturday they were outplayed but never outfought or outwitted in the first leg of their World Cup play-off.
And O’Neill has promised there will be a creative edge to his side in tomorrow’s second leg which was missing in Copenhagen.
“It doesn’t matter what it looks like or how we get through as long as we do,” said defender Shane Duffy. “In the first leg, it was scruffy, a little bit ugly. Maybe we could have put our foot on the ball more.
“It’s not an excuse but the pitch wasn’t great and you could see even some of their technical players were struggling. The ball was bobbling so it was a tough night for both teams.
“But you’ve got to give us credit for the clean sheet against a side who had beaten Poland 4-0.”
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Man-of-the-match Darren Randolph pulled off two excellent saves in the opening half an hour as Denmark threatened to overwhelm the visitors.
But so effective were the Republic in dousing their fire, he was not called into action again until the dying moments when he tipped over a header from substitute Yussuf Poulsen.
The Middlesbrough keeper knows Ireland have passed the first test but their mission is nowhere near accomplished.
“It’s win or bust now,” said Randolph. “And we’re at home so it’s up to us to get the result. Our job over there was to keep in the tie and give ourselves a chance and we’ve done that. Now we go to Dublin and go again.”
The Republic have a good recent record in recent do-or-die showdowns.
At Euro 2016, Robbie Brady’s late goal against Italy sent them through to the knockout stages while in Cardiff last month, James McClean was the hero with the goal which shattered Wales’ qualification hopes.
And Randolph knows that if there’s another goalless draw, Ireland will face their first penalty shoot-out since losing to Spain in the last 16 of the World Cup in 2002.
Randolph revealed he has never experienced a shoot-out as a professional. “It has been a while,” he said. “Probably the Milk Cup when I was 13 or 14. I’d love to say we won but I can’t remember.
“My last penalty save was for West Ham against Bournemouth last season. We’re all aware it could go to penalties and we’re prepared for that but our aim is to win the game in 90 minutes.”