The policy of naming an Ireland team an hour before kick-off was a bizarre tactic employed by Martin O'Neill.
But current incumbent Stephen Kenny returned to it in Portugal last month when he told Jamie McGrath he was making his first senior international start just 60 minutes before the World Cup qualifier.
“I was used to the way he picked his team at Dundalk," said McGrath.
"He rang me a week or two before the camp, saying, ‘I’m bringing you in to play, you’re not just coming to make up the numbers’, or whatever.
"So I didn’t really know what way to take that.
"To get told an hour before kick-off was such an adrenaline buzz.
"I just had to process it and get my touch right in the warm-up and go from there.
"I was happy with how I did overall, but the main thing was we didn’t get the points on the board. But it’s definitely going to be a night I’ll never forget.
“At Dundalk it was different, you could tell on a Thursday (if you were playing). I don’t know if it was just for my sake, keeping my nerves away overnight.
"Maybe that was the reason why. I don’t know. He probably did me a favour.”
Ireland led through John Egan's headed goal just before half-time, and McGrath, who played well overall, provided the assist with his accurate corner.
However Cristiano Ronaldo broke Irish hearts with his two late strikes to win it for the hosts.
“It was definitely the highlight of my career so far," insisted McGrath. "It's probably going to live long in the memory and it’s one I’m never going to forget.
"Obviously the result, up to the 90th minute it would have been one of the best in history, if we held onto that 1-0 win, it was going to be the best night of my career until I retire.”
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