A match Ireland had to win to clinch a play-off place ended in a stalemate, and while the inquest into what has gone before will be long, it is the future that will attract the greatest debate. Will the manager stay in his job?
Kerr and Ireland will no doubt look back on the leads they conceded against the Swiss in Basle, but more pertinently the late one in Israel, and the two-goal cushion at home to the Israelis, with all three games ending in draws.
The closing stages was death-or-glory stuff, with Frei missing a Magnin cross through the six-yard box, and then Shay Given pulling off a brilliant save from the striker.
Kerr brought on Elliott and Doherty in a desperate attempt to keep the dream alive, but other than a Steven Reid curler being tipped over by Pascal Zuberbuhler - his one and only save of the game - it was never going to happen for Ireland.