Bernard Jackman was appointed Horse Sport Ireland's acting head of high performance last November with the Olympics in mind.
And shaded by his cap in the minutes before O'Connor's individual jumping, he shared some thoughts on the excitement of being at a Games - especially at a spot like Versailles' gardens but also where he feels the Irish equestrian team has been at so far with a long way still to go at Paris 2024.
"We would have hoped to finish top eight. I think we performed very well and I think what cost us when you look at the final leaderboard is the 20-point penalty for having to withdraw a horse," he said.
"Sarah Ennis had an amazing cross country yesterday but just after she competed we found the horse to be slightly lame and we had to make that substitution and there was a 20-point penalty for that and when you look at the table that would bring us up to around the fourth or fifth mark.
"So that's the sport and I think we've had a lot of highlights, particularly the cross country day was outstanding, Austin O'Connor going clear, Susie Berry with a very good round. Maybe a little bit disappointed with our dressage score and some of our jumping today but overall we've had a phenomenal preparation and I think it's a really good stepping stone towards the next cycle with some very good young eventers coming through our pathways."
After Jackman set off gratefully for the shade to continue his work prior to O'Connor's individual jumping round, it was time to return to the arena and this time to see the Corkman leave his best till last with a clear round that lifted him up to 17th overall.
A solid showing from Ireland over the three days but with more to come from the equestrian side of things later this week, with Abigail Lyle making her Olympics debut in dressage and an in-form show jumping trio of Cian O'Connor, Daniel Coyle and Shane Sweetnam primed to go for a medal push.
If the shimmer of gold, silver or bronze does emerge, it certainly won't be a mirage.
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