Friday night in Cork is the noisiest one of the week. From nine-to-fivers letting their hair down, to football fans heading to Turner’s Cross, there is an intoxicating feel to the city.

That kind of giddiness can have a contagious effect and sure enough among the Irish Under 21 supporters who will be packing out the old stadium on the city’s southside, there is high hope history can be made (kick-off 7.45pm tonight). But then you examine the record books and sobriety returns. It isn’t just that Ireland have never qualified for a major finals at this age range. It is also a case that to do so this time they will have to return to the scene of their torment two years ago with an identical to-do list.

Then they needed a win away to Italy to make it through; this time they need to beat Norway, then the Azzurri on Tuesday to play in next year's European championship finals in Slovakia. To put that task in even blunter terms: Italy’s Under 21 side have reached the European finals on 22 out of 24 attempts whereas Ireland’s success rate stands at zero. In this context, any Irish victory over the next four days should be celebrated. A win tonight against Norway will guarantee them a play-off. Back to back victories over Norway and Italy will send them to the finals.

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“The vibe here is really good; it always is within this squad because we bond well together,” says Andy Moran, who has been promoted to captain in Joe Hodge’s absence. “We know how good Norway can be. They beat us a year ago so it would be nice to get one back on them.

“But it is not just that. We are still looking to top the group. It can be done. If we play our normal game, that should be enough because we feel we can beat anyone on our day. It is not just a case of us holding our own against these kind of teams. We believe we can win each time.

“And the goal at the end of it is massive for us, to be the first group to do it would be unbelievable and it would top off how special a campaign this has been. It would be brilliant.”

But it will also be difficult. Hodge, their midfield dynamo, is absent, so too Mason Melia and Sinclair Armstrong, their strikers.

Then there may be demons to banish. Ireland led against Norway and Italy last year, more recently against Latvia. But each time winning positions were allowed to slip and they ended up with two points from those three games.

Moran says: “Psychologically, we don’t feel pressure as we have so many lads who are playing at a high level and are used to playing in big games. Personally, I like it when the pressure is on. It gives you focus, an extra boost.

“As a team, this can bring the best out of us. We have played some really good games, not just in qualifying but in friendlies too.

"We played that Ukraine team who got to the semis of the last Euros - a team who were a year older than us - and we drew with them. So, we have shown time and time again we can compete with anyone. I don’t think there is any reason why we should have fear.”

Their manager, Jim Crawford, senses that soaring level of belief among his team, saying: “Every player in this squad is confident but they are not complacent. We have that feeling that we can go and get a positive result against Norway.”

That’s why Moran, who has played Premier League football with Brighton, and who has become used to featuring in front of 20,000-plus crowds for Blackburn and more recently Stoke, does not see this as a ‘step down’.

Far from it. A year ago, he made it into the senior squad and got his first international cap but he has a real sense of attachment to this Under 21 squad and after coming so close to qualification two years ago, has a sense of unfinished business to complete.

He said: “The way I look at it, either team is good to be in. There is a clear thing we have here with the Under 21s. We can make history. This is an opportunity for us to do something special. Why would I not want to be here?

“There is always time to get back into the senior squad. If I do get back in there, it would be unbelievable. It was one of the proudest moments of my life when I made my debut. But we have a job to do here and I don’t want to be distracted from that.”

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