Town striker Daryl Murphy won his 17th full cap as the Republic of Ireland recorded a famous 1-0 victory over World Cup holders Germany at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin in their penultimate Euro 2016 qualifier.

Murphy, 32, started and played the first 65 minutes alongside former Blues skipper Jon Walters before being replaced by Southampton's Shane Long, who netted the winning goal five minutes later. Blues frontman David McGoldrick was amongst the unused subs.

Ireland, who remain third in the group, are now certain of at least a place in the play-offs but could qualify automatically as they are only behind second-placed Poland, who they face in what's now a crucial final game in Warsaw on Sunday, on goal difference and leaders Germany by a point.

The Germans look set to confirm top spot when they take on second-bottom Georgia in their final game on Sunday.

The Poles grabbed a last-gasp 2-2 draw with Scotland, who now can’t qualify, in Glasgow this evening where Blues defender Christophe Berra was an unused sub.

The Scots complete their games against Gibraltar in Faro, Portugal on Sunday.

Elsewhere, former Town skipper Gareth McAuley was in the Northern Ireland side which confirmed their place at Euro 2016 by beating Greece 3-1 at Windsor Park, Belfast.

Photo: Action Images

happybeingblue added 22:39 - Oct 8 daryl looked sluggish again tonight ... Shane long proved he should have started from the off very surprised to see him start as he's been off form .. still great win for the mighty greens !
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nthstd added 00:06 - Oct 9 Good lad Phil see you mentioned the Mighty GAWA _ Green and White Army. Allez Les Verts!!!!!!
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topguy added 01:04 - Oct 9 Don't agree really, the tactical plan to start with murphy worked, if long had started the germans would have got to grips with him pretty early, as the 1st half for the irish was slow and murphy had few long balls and with little height to them when they did, but after an hr the german defence was used to the slower build up to try and play in murphy, and to hit them with a long ball with some more pace when murphy was switched with long caught them on the hop, so it was a tactic o'neil looked at and worked. In every team you need more a team of different types of players and murphy played his part well.

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VulpineBlue added 07:58 - Oct 9 Agree 100% with topguy. Always worth starting with a 'heavyweight' to mix it up and tire defenders. Use speed and movement later on in the game when the defenders are not so sharp and can't track as quickly.
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BrettenhamBlue added 08:21 - Oct 9 Didn't see the game, only the highlights. Murphy seemed to have a superb game, back to his best. Shame we have yet to see that this season.
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exeterblue10 added 08:49 - Oct 9 It reminded me of town at Man U - desperate defending for most of the game, the midfield so deep that the only thing they could do was play the long ball to Murphy and then, when he came on, Long. Difference is the Irish held strong at the back (some very un-German finishing I have to say), and Long took his chance brilliantly. Well done to the GAWA!.Come on you BAWA.!!

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TimmyH added 13:13 - Oct 9 Well read 2 player ratings in this mornings papers and they marked him 6 and 5.5 for the game so hardly can say he was back to his best but then again you are talking the World Cup holders he was playing against.
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rinkydinkpanther added 13:50 - Oct 9 More impressively, Murphy managed to not score again, which seems to be his raison d'être this season. Keep it up mate!
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adeblueboy added 14:18 - Oct 9 Martin Oneill going for it in Poland next week. I guess he will start Long not Murph then!!!
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brian_a_mul added 16:15 - Oct 9 Murph put himself about and made life difficult for Hummels & Boateng. Walters and Murphs constantly pressed the defenders and GK and made them waste possession or rush their clearances. Not spectacular but effective. The irish team defended from the front and Murphs play a big part in that. Long had the pace & energy to burn the defenders. It worked a treat :) What a great finish!!

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