Jason McAteer’s stunning goal secured a famous victory to rank with anything even former boss Charlton produced during a golden era of unprecedented international success.

The Republic will still more than likely have to take the now-familiar play-off route to the finals.

And they have vivid memories of heartbreak in that competition after losing on a 3-2 aggregate against Belgium ahead of World Cup 98 and on the away goals rule against Turkey for a place in the finals of Euro 2000.

But this time they would need to beat only the third-best contenders from the Asian qualifying competition - which still numbers as many as 10 possible candidates including Saudi Arabia, who are the highest-ranked at 35 in the FIFA chart - to seal their passage to World Cup 2002.

Whatever the case, McCarthy’s desire to one day return to club management will go on the back-burner for a while longer yet.

And although there is no obvious challenger on the horizon to become his successor there is now a different order of command in the FAI’s hierarchy.

And, inevitably, there were suggestions they might opt for change if it became clear that another campaign would end in gallant failure.

Now those doubts have been swept away by new president Milo Corcoran who, even before Saturday’s triumph, declared himself a firm McCarthy supporter.

Corcoran, who came to office when previous president Pat Quigley’s five-year term ended with June’s 2-0 win in Estonia, said: "It would be great to see Mick and the boys qualify for next summer’s finals and it would be a fully deserved reward.

"They have battled on in the wake of what Jack Charlton achieved in reaching the finals of two World Cups which we can never forget and they have done so magnificently.

"Mick had to make so many changes in his teams as some of Jack’s players retired and left the international scene. It was not an easy task but he has come through with flying colours and with a team that is now again a match for the best."

McCarthy is currently employed on a revised and improved contract he was offered during the qualifiers for Euro 2000 - a quest that ultimately ended in tears after a late Macedonian equaliser in Skopje prevented Ireland finishing top of a group containing powerful Yugoslavia and Croatia.

It is due to expire as soon as Ireland reach the end of their latest World Cup journey, but that road now looks certain to stretch way ahead.

And his opportunity to dictate a lucrative new deal is obvious with Corcoran’s assertion that "the financial implications for the FAI if the team reaches the World Cup finals are immense".

Those are heartening words for McCarthy who recalls: "After the last campaign when in Macedonia we were just 12 seconds from qualifying for Euro 2000 but didn’t get there it seemed a posse was after me, calling for my head.

"But thankfully I had a couple of guys in Pat Quigley and Bernard O’Byrne (former FAI chief executive who was ousted in a scandal over alleged misuse of FAI funds earlier this year) who supported me publicly when I needed it.

"I think they can take a lot of the credit for the fact that I’m now sitting here with the team top of our World Cup group because sometimes along the way you need somebody to put an arm around you and show faith in you.

"I’ve done it on some occasions with players and on that occasion a couple of guys did it for me. So to them I say thanks a lot."

Clearly McCarthy can now expect similar backing from Corcoran and new FAI general secretary Brendan Menton. After beating the Dutch, the Republic can even afford to slip up against Cyprus in Dublin next month and still finish second in the table.

That is highly unlikely after beating the Cypriots 4-0 in Nicosia in March and they could even finish top to qualify automatically if Portugal, 7-1 winners over Andorra in Barcelona on Saturday night, drop points in their remaining ties against Cyprus and Estonia.

Again that looks only a remote possibility, although technically Holland’s hopes are still alive until Portugal pick up another point.

But the Dutch, as boss Louis van Gaal admits, hold no realistic expectation of that miracle after the fateful goal by Blackburn Rovers outcast McAteer, who has won 42 caps in seven years and scored just three goals, produced another graphic example of the rewards that can come with a declaration of faith in an individual when he badly needs reassurance.

McAteer’s fall-out with manager Graeme Souness at Ewood Park since he scored a spectacular goal in Ireland’s 2-2 draw in Holland exactly 12 months ago, have affected his international career and after being relegated to a peripheral role in the Republic squad this year he was a surprise selection on the right of midfield on Saturday.

But he took his chance when it mattered most when coolly hooking in a cross by substitute Steve Finnan and said: "Mick’s demonstrated his faith in me by continually picking me for squads even though I’ve not been in the team at Blackburn.

"I know I only got into the side against Holland because of things that happened with injuries for this match but, hopefully, I’ve rewarded that faith now."

McCarthy said: "I’m delighted for Jason. Like Steve Staunton who can’t get in the team at Aston Villa but still does a great job for us, he is quality, but I’m not I’m not knocking other managers who don’t pick certain players. That happens in football."

Gary Kelly, sent off for two bookable fouls on Marc Overmars, will be suspended for the Dublin clash with Cyprus on October 6 and with Tottenham’s Stephen Carr still battling to overcome a knee injury there could be a chance for Steve Finnan.

The Fulham defender went on as substitute to fill Kelly’s place in defence with McCarthy sacrificing the front-line threat of Robbie Keane.

So when Finnan’s cross set up McAteer’s cool finish for the winner it only proved the gods were on Ireland’s side.

Holland, almost frighteningly superior in the first half, missed a string of chances notably through Patrick Kluivert and Ruud van Nistelrooy as Overmars’ pace terrorised the Irish.

And the Dutch should have had a 63rd-minute penalty when goalkeeper Shay Given bundled over van Nistelrooy when Staunton’s stray back-pass left the £18m Manchester United striker with an open goal.

They laid constant siege to the Republic goal after McAteer’s goal but van Nistelrooy spurned another opportunity to secure at least a point with a header flashing just wide at the death.

"We rode our luck but I think we deserved it," said McCarthy. "I would have taken 0-0 after Gary was sent off but to go on and win it with 10 men made it all the sweeter."