Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this huge match for Ireland in Slovakia.

And there is the half-time whistle. All square but Ireland really should be in front. Breathless stuff in Zilna.

BUT IT IS SAVED!!! Everton reserve Jan Mucha has pushed Robbie Keane's effort away...a similar save to Packie Bonner's against Romania all those years ago. Not the worst penalty but the right height for the keeper. Mucha with a bit of gamesmanship delays Keane taking it and he also looked off his line when he saved it too but to be fair it might not have been a penalty in the first place.

PENALTY FOR IRELAND!!! Zabavník and Mucha look at each other McGeady nicks in and is brought down my Mucha. Looked pretty soft but the Irish will take it.

Weiss is unhappy as he is charged with a handball but Slovakia continue to offer little going forward....oh except for the goal of course.

O'Shea with a long ball – the Slovak defenders kind of look at each other but there is too much on it for Long.

And that change is made - Gibson on for Green.

Paul Green has done his hamstring and is going to have to come off. Darron Gibson to replace him.

Brilliant from Long down the right – he skins his man and then puts in a fine low cross…Robbie Keane slides in to try and get on the end of it but it just fizzes by him.

The home fans now bouncing up and down. Has the momentum shifted?

Ireland have a quick corner at the other end but nothing comes from it.

SLOVAKIA ARE LEVEL!! It came from a corner whipped in well by Hamsik, Kucka headed it on to the back post and Durica was there to head home at the back post. Against the run of play.

Mucha nearly makes a mess of things when trying to clear a back pass but Keane just couldn't get it under control.

35 minutes in and Shay Given has yet to make a save.

Long breaks well down the left and then holds up the ball until Keane comes to support. Nothing comes of the attack but decent play again from Ireland.

Sestak booked for a late tackle on St Ledger - looked a little harsh.

Zabavník with a superb low cross that flashed across the face of the Ireland goal and Jendrisek just couldn't get a proper contact on it. It all came after Glenn Whealan gave the ball away in midfield.

Kucka fires a shot from 45 yards out straight at the wall.

Ireland are really buzzing with confidence – they are playing like they did in the last 20 minutes against Russia with the previous 70 looking like a distant memory.

Long winning a lot of headers when long balls are pumped forward.

Fahey whips in another good free but Kilbane was pushing.

Kucka has left the boot in a few times - he is lucky not to have been booked.