Republic of Ireland vs Germany match report: Shane Long shoots down world champions to keep Euro 2016 dream alive

Republic of Ireland 1 Germany 0: Martin O’Neill’s side now guaranteed top three spot, but head for Warsaw on Sunday knowing they could still top Group D

Shane Long celebrates scoring the Republic’s winner with 20 minutes to go on Thursday night (Reuters)

Shane Long’s 14th international goal handed the Republic of Ireland a priceless win over world champions Germany in Dublin and blew the race for Euro 2016 qualification wide open.

The Southampton striker came off the bench to thump a 70th-minute drive past Manuel Neuer to hand the Republic their biggest competitive victory since they defeated the Netherlands in a World Cup play-off in 2001.

Ireland’s success, coupled with Poland’s 2-2 draw with Scotland, means that Martin O’Neill’s side are guaranteed a top-three finish and a play-off place at worst, but they will head for Warsaw on Sunday knowing they could still top Group D.

It was a night for heroes at the Aviva Stadium as O’Neill’s depleted team stood firm in the face of a German onslaught and took their chance when it came in front of a delirious full house of 50,604.

Predictably, Joachim Löw’s men dominated possession. Less predictably, they failed to do a great deal with it as Ireland keepers Shay Given and Darren Randolph, who replaced the injured 39-year-old two minutes before the break, did not have a single save of note to make.

For that, they were indebted to captain John O’Shea, who blocked Ilkay Gundogan’s 13th-minute shot over his own bar, and central defensive partner Richard Keogh who managed to prevent Mesut Özil from reaching Matthias Ginter’s cross two minutes later.

Ireland were able to muster little going forward and they rode their luck as time ran down in the first half when Özil met a Thomas Müller cross unmarked but steered his left-foot effort wide.

There was little let-up after the break as Germany pressed Ireland ever deeper, but once again, the Republic responded in dogged fashion.

The home fans were off their seat with 64 minutes gone when Daryl Murphy fired a long-range effort just wide of the upright after Wes Hoolahan’s initial shot had been blocked.

Long replaced Murphy almost immediately and the newcomer had only five minutes to wait for his big moment, running on to Randolph’s clearance and hammering the ball past the stranded Neuer to raise the roof at the Aviva.

Mats Hummels and Müller passed up glorious opportunities to level in quick succession and the Republic held out for a famous victory.

PA