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But 25-year-old O'Brien (seen left, puncturing a ball with his Gonzo-like nose) has urged Ireland not to relax on the road to Germany 2006.
"To keep a clean sheet against players of France's calibre is great and a credit to the whole team," said the centre-half, when reflecting on last night's 0-0 draw in Paris.
"But it's vital we don't waste these last two away results in Switzerland and France. There are still no easy games and we have to stay focused on the job ahead."
O'Brien has now become something of a fixture - winning his sixteenth cap against the French, in what was his third qualifier under Kerr.
But there was one apsect of the Stade de France clash that rankled O'Brien - his late scuffle with 33-year-old Barthez.
The former Bradford defender accused Barthez of a deliberate elbow, and being 'unsportsmanlike'.
"The reason I stood with Barthez was because he seemed to be claiming all the crosses, so I just stood my ground," said O'Brien, of Andy Reid's late corner.
"Then as the ball came in, he caught me with his elbow.
"I'm not making anything up. I think the television replays will prove that, but whether anything will be done about it, I don't know."
Spanish referee Arturo Dauden Ibanez failed to spot the incident, but television cameras did and the matter may yet be brought before FIFA's disciplinary committee for review.
O'Brien was also involved in a similar incident when playing for Newcastle a few weeks ago, as West Brom's Darren Purse aimed to strike the Irishman, but managed to catch team mate Ricardo Scimeca instead, and received a ban.