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Unlike meetings of the past between these two where the illustrious Michel Platini and Jean Tigana wore the maillot Bleu, the tide had turned on this occasion.
The men in green were armed with all the pre-match optimism.
Spurs striker Robbie Keane was searching for his twenty-second international goal and the outright Republic goalscoring record. Tricky winger Damien Duff had finally found favour at Jose Mourinho's Chelski and Roy Keane was making his second competitive start since making an emotional return to the fold last April.
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Add into the pot, on-form stopper Shay Given, one Kevin 'Zinedine' Kilbane (right) and Newcastle right full Steven Carr and Ireland took in the cool Saint-Denis air as slight favourites.
France were low on confidence, missing several high profile personnel in the shape of the suspended Patrick Vieira, the retired Claude Makelele and injured duo David Trezeguet and Ludovic Giuly.
And going by the script, it was the visitors who started the brighter.
Starting Liverpool's Steve Finnan on the right side of midfield proved a shrewd move, as Ireland, and 33-year-old Keane, took the game took 20-year-old rookie Rio Antonio Mavuba.
Kilbane took advantage of French sloppiness to rob Mavuba on 11 minutes, and fire the first shot in anger as his 20-yard effort looped out for a corner off William Gallas.
A moment of miscommunication almost saw Ireland's early work undone as Carr's back header forced Given into a smart parry.
The sides then exchanged half chances as Olivier Dacourt and Finnan tried their luck from distance. In between the football, Roy Keane was forced to leave the pitch as his undergarment gave way, and with a swift dash to the dressingroom, an undeterred Keane returned to marshall the middle.
A good jock-strap, but not a great one.
Robert Pires, who somehow hadn’t made France’s Diving squad for the Athens Olympics, went down after a soft challenge by John O’Shea shortly after, earning a right wing free but the wrath of Ireland's vocal travelling support for the remainder.
Minutes later, Kilbane tried his luck in the box. Once again Spanish official Arturo Ibanez offered no reward for a blatant dive. Clinton Morrison, brimming with confidence, rose well above Sebastien Squillaci to flash Finnan's cross marginally wide.
As to press home Ireland's 62% haul of possession, Robbie Keane and Duff also offered numerous problems for Gael Givet and co.
On 34 minutes however, the French got their first attempt on target as Gallas blasted a shot straight at Given. Neat interplay two minutes later led to Pires unleasing a closer effort, but Given was again equal - stretching well to palm away.
Having fallen awkwardly in an aerial duel with Givet, Morrison was forced off with five minutes of the half remaining with ligament trouble. Cue Andy Reid - the only player on the pitch without top-flight league experience - from the bench and an increased French involvement.
Despite starting with more venom, the Irish rearguard fended off the French charge after the restart.
Reid relieved pressure when letting fly with a 25-yard shot, that was fumbled unconvincingly by Barthez. Gallas was left unmarked at the back post a minute later but lost his footing and Ireland escaped.
Dacourt, Mavuba and Djibril Cisse had attempts denied as Raymond Domenech's side grew in both stature and confidence. Given soon foiled Henry in the six yard box, as Kenny Cunningham was caught out. As the match went from end-to-end, Duff asked further questions of Barthez.
With a half-hour left, former Leeds midfielder Dacourt was forced out with a knee injury and Kerr's charges took an immediate advantage. Reid whipped in a great free kick but John O'Shea missed what was undoubtedly the Republic's best chance of the 90 minutes.
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As the Irish tried in vain for an away goal, Cisse and Henry (left, battling with Carr) were getting no purchase from the excellent Cunningham-O'Brien axis at the back.
The luck of the Irish went AWOL with four minutes remaining as Barthez, agrieved by O'Brien's attentions on his goal line while waiting from a Reid corner, threw and elbow at the Newcastle defender. Referee Ibanez was oblivious to the infringement, but quickly cooled down the situation.
Kerr's side cleverly played out the game's final minutes, with Finnan rounding down the clock in the right corner, and edging Ireland to just their second World Cup point in the history of their visits south.
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By the next time we line up the French in their capital, we could be seventy years without a win in the country! Nevertheless, if Ireland are to approach every game with the same determination and spirit as displayed on this October night, we could have a very different side altogether.
Then again, so could France! Roll on the Faroes!
France: (4-4-2) - Barthez (Capt); Squillaci, Givet, Silvestre, Gallas; Wiltord, Pires, Mavuba, Dacourt (Diarra 63); Cisse (82), Henry.
Ireland: (4-4-2) - Given; Carr, Cunningham (Capt), O'Brien, O'Shea; Finnan, Kilbane, Roy Keane, Duff; Robbie Keane, Morrison (Andy Reid 40).
Referee: Arturo Dauden Ibanez (Spain)
Attendance: 75,000
atogb Man-of-the-match: Kevin Kilbane
(*Photos courtesy of Getty Images)