Shane Long nets equaliser as Ireland deny Poland

Shane Long scored an injury-time equaliser as the Republic of Ireland kept alive their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2016 with a battling 1-1 draw against Poland at the Aviva Stadium.

Poland controlled the first half of the Group D encounter, but a tactical tweak in the second half by Ireland boss Martin O”Neill saw the home side take control.

Robbie Keane and Robbie Brady both saw second-half efforts hit the post but just as the hosts were beginning to despair of scoring the goal their domination deserved, Southampton striker Long popped up in the six-yard box to poke a deflected shot over Poland goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

O'Neill had started the match with an attacking 4-4-1-1 formation with Hoolahan behind Keane, and Brady and Seamus Coleman the attacking full backs.

As confident as he looks going forward, Brady is a weak link defensively, and it was his mistake that led to Poland's opening goal.

The Dubliner lost the ball down the left-hand side, allowing Slawomir Peszko to hold off Marc Wilson before drilling a low shot past Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given to the joy of the 10,000 Poland supporters who had filled every spare seat they could find in the Dublin stadium.

O'Neill changed to a 4-4-2 formation in the second half, with Walters joining Keane up front as Ireland finally broke down a Poland defence that had up until then been superbly marshalled by Kamil Glik.

Poland next face Georgia at home in June. They lead Group D with 11 points from five matches, while fourth-placed Ireland have eight points from their five games before they meet a Scotland side who are two points ahead of them in Dublin.

9' – CHANCE! Ireland take a quick free-kick after a foul on Walters, as Brady feeds Hoolahan, but the shot is weak and wide of Fabianski's goal.

16' – GOAL! Ireland 0-1 Poland. A mistake from Robbie Brady down the left, and Peszko robs the ball and drives a shot past Given and into the far corner of the goal. Wilson also had a chance to nick the ball from Peszko before the Poland winger drilled the ball past Given.

43' – CHANCE! Brady feeds McGeady, who controls with his chest then shows good footwork, but the Everton winger's chip drifts just wide of Fabianski's goal.

52' - HITS THE POST! Brady gets the ball down the left and his centre gets a deflection off Szukala and clips the post.

64' – CHANCE! Brady's corner finds Wilson on the angle, but Fabianski makes the save. The ball was straight at him, but with power.

69' – CHANCE! Ref Eriksson says nothing doing as Keane looks for a handball, then Walters sees a floated header from Coleman's cross drop into Fabianski's hands.

71' - HITS THE POST! It is all Ireland now, and Keane hits the post at the far post from McClean's brilliant cross after calling 'my ball' to the waiting Walters.

82' – CHANCE! Coleman shoots wide after McClean's cross finds him after the ball clips off Keane's heels.

90' – GOAL! Ireland 1-1 Poland. Brady's corner drops to Hoolahan, and then Long is able to poke the Norwich midfielder's cushioned header past Fabianski from inside the six-yard box.

The Republic of Ireland have won just one of their last seven internationals against Poland, but have only lost once.

Martin O'Neill has lost just one of his previous seven internationals in charge of Ireland (W4 D2).

All three competitive matches between Poland and the Republic of Ireland have ended in a draw – before tonight, there was a goalless draw in Dublin and 3-3 in Poznan in Euro 92 qualifying.

With six assists and three goals in his previous 11 internationals, you could see the thinking of manager Martin O'Neill in selecting the Hull City utility player at left-back. But the Dubliner is no defender, and it was his mistake that led to Poland's goal.

The 23-year-old's set piece prowess deserted him as well, and Ireland were perhaps fortunate that his frailties did not cost his side the full three points.

Kamil Glik (Poland) The Torino captain dominated Keane in the first period, and then the more muscular presence of Walters in the second, with a performance that was strong in the air and hard in the tackle, especially in the second half as Ireland bombarded the Poland box with high balls from Brady and James McClean.

Republic of Ireland: Given 7; Coleman 7, O'Shea 7, Wilson 6, Brady 5, Walters 7, Whelan 6, McCarthy 7, McGeady 6, Hoolohan 7, Keane 6. Subs: Long 8, McClean 8.

Poland: Fabianski 7, Szukała 7, Jodłowiec 7, Wawrzyniak 7, Glik 9, Olkowski 7, Krychowiak 7, Rybus 7, Peszko 8, Milik 6, Lewandowski 6. Subs: Mila 6, Kucharczyk 7.