Lansdowne rocked as the old roar returned and, in those raucous closing minutes, it felt like Ireland football's reawakening.
Whether that is the case remains to be seen - Azerbaijan was only three days ago, remember - but this was a great night to bring an end to an international window that could have produced much more than the two points taken.
We had forgotten what this felt like.
Until the 86th minute Serbian own goal that earned the hosts a 1-1 draw, Ireland were game again once more against superior opposition while depending on the magnificent Gavin Bazunu to prevent the group table-toppers from putting the tie beyond Stephen Kenny's men.
The regret surely for Kenny is that these kind of performances - Serbia away and at home, Portugal away - if repeated against the group's lower lights would have produced convincing victories.
That they failed to do so against both Luxembourg and the Azeris in Dublin put unnecessary pressure on the manager, but this result will provide breathing room as he continues to implement changes to the national team's style and personnel.
'In Kenny We Trust' was the banner unfurled in the south stand before kick-off - and again after it, naturally.
And while a banner can be taken one way or another, the positive reaction from the crowd throughout will encourage Kenny and sway FAI overlords - if they needed any persuasion, that is.
Of course, Ireland's civil war between the pro and anti-Kennyites will rage on until the October and November fixtures are completed.
Yet even before the equaliser, the manager would have been encouraged that the supporters were still behind his team, despite that winless run in competitive games extending to 11 now.
Ireland last won at home in a competitive fixture in June 20
19 - 27 months ago - and that was against Gibraltar.
That's the narrative Kenny is striving to change, and surely the one thing those on opposite sides of the debate can agree on is that it will take time as a young cohort are blooded.
Last night Andrew Omobamidele made his full debut and, as he was in Portugal, the teenager was outstanding in Ireland's defence.
But it was Bazunu, another 19-year-old, who took all the plaudits after keeping his team in the game. It is already clear that Ireland fans have a goalkeeper they can truly believe in.
Liverpool's Caoimhin Kelleher will be a great option at international level in the years to come, too.
But while the 24-year-old waits for an extended chance to impress at Liverpool, Bazunu, on loan from Man City to Rotherham this season after spending last year with Rochdale, is seizing his chance for Ireland.
A first team player for Shamrock Rovers at 16, the now 19-year-old did concede in the first half. Despite that, he was imperious last night.
Bazunu twice denied Europe's top scorer in this World Cup qualifying campaign Aleksander Mitrovic with great saves - the second, from close range, in particular, just shy of the hour mark - then superbly stopped Nemanja Radonjic's effort after a 72nd minute breakaway had goal written all over it.
Four minutes after that, he raced to the edge of his box and was beaten by Radonjic, but the sub had to change direction to evade the Ireland stopper and James McClean cleared.
Ireland have failed again to pick up a competitive win in this international window but Bazunu has come into his own, his penalty save from Ronaldo a week ago earning him a worldwide stage.
His distribution, such a key part of the modern game now for a goalkeeper, was just short of impeccable, while he was commanding in dealing with crosses.
He was beaten once, however, but ultimately it wasn't enough for the Serbs to do the double over Ireland.
Not even Bazunu could get a strong enough hand to deny the Lazio man from Dusan Tadic's near post corner in the 20th minute.
But in the end it was the visitors on the back foot and Shane Duffy almost produced again at the death. Had he done so, the noise may have shook the Aviva off its hinges.
