Good evening folks and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of this evening's Euro 2016 qualifier between the Republic of Ireland and Poland!

There are two games currently being played in the group, with Scotland taking on Gibraltar and Georgia facing Germany. They're not yet finished, but with the Tartan Army winning 6-1 and the world champions leading 2-0, they're all but assured.

Should Scotland and Germany hang onto their victories, it means that they will overtake Martin O'Neill's charges by climbing to second and third, leaving the Greens in fourth ahead of this evening's game in Dublin.

Adam Nawalka's side currently tops the table on 10 points and an impressive goal difference of +13, with three victories and a draw, including a win over the world champions.

It's full time in Scotland and in Georgia, and we can confirm that Gordon Strachan's charges have thrashed Gibraltar 6-1, while Germany beat Georgia 2-0.

This means that Poland, Germany and Scotland are joint top of Group D for the time being, with Ireland in fourth, Georgia in fifth and Gibraltar sixth.

Group D could be very interestingly poised by the end of the night. If Ireland beat Poland, then FOUR sides will be locked on 10 points at the halfway point of the qualifying campaign.

Martin O'Neill has demanded total commitment from his players tonight, emphasising how important their home form is. On Saturday he said: "We have given ourselves a chance by winning in Georgia and getting a point in Germany. The games here were always going to be important. We have to be ready."

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Now, it's time for the team news:

Rep of Ireland: Given, Coleman, O'Shea, Wilson, Brady, Whelan, McCarthy, McGeady, Hoolahan, Keane, Walters

Poland: Fabianski, Szukala, Jodlowiec, Wawrzyniak, Glik, Olkowski, Krychowiak, Rybus, Peszko, Milik, Lewandowski

So veteran goalkeeper Shay Given is one of seven changes from the side which started in the Group D qualifier defeat by Scotland in November. The 38-year-old replaces David Forde for his 128th cap after ending his international retirement last autumn.

In other changes, O'Neill has picked Seamus Coleman, Marc Wilson, John O'Shea and Hull's Robbie Brady in defence, while Wes Hoolahan is selected to to play in behind recalled lone striker Robbie Keane.

Nawalka, meanwhile, makes six changes to the team which started the 4-0 victory in Georgia as Lukasz Fabianski, Tomasz Jodlowiec, Jakub Wawryzniak, Pavel Olkowski, Maciej Rybus and Slawomir Peszko are drafted in.

Let's pick over the history between the two sides playing tonight at the Aviva – Ireland's record in 25 games against Poland is six wins, nine draws and 10 defeats.

It was 0-0 when they last met, in a friendly in Poznan on 19 November 2013, but the two have only met twice before in competitive fixtures.

Both matches, which took place during Euro 1992 qualifying campaign, ended in a draw – goalless in Dublin and 3-3 in Poznan.

Poland have travelled well in qualifying, winning both of their away games in Group D while scoring 11 goals and conceding none.

However, Ireland have won three of their last four competitive games at home, so it should be an even match and quite hard to call.

The atmosphere is building at the Aviva - it's bound to be electrifying come 7:45pm.

Atmosphere building @AVIVAStadium! #COYBIG #MakeTheMatch #IrlPol https://t.co/vjfew0Clfn — FAI (@FAIreland) March 29, 2015

One key man that the Republic has to watch out for is Arkadiusz Milik. He has been in scintillating form this season, bagging a stunning 23 goals in 30 games for Ajax. The on-loan Bayer Leverkusen striker has also scored in every Poland game this campaign bar the one against Gibraltar.

We're just under 15 minutes away from kickoff in Dublin. Will Ireland blow Group D wide open with a victory against Poland, or will the visitors re-establish a three-point lead over the chasing pack?

The players are making their way out of the tunnel. Not long to go now!

The home fans are doing their best to get behind their team, chanting "Ireland! Ireland!" and doing their best to drown out the voices of the away support.

Let's get one final recap of the teams:

Rep of Ireland: Given, Coleman, O'Shea, Wilson, Brady, Hoolahan, Whelan, McCarthy, McGeady, Keane, Walters

Subs: Forde, Clark, Long, McClean, Meyler, Arter, Christie, Ward, Quinn, Murphy, Keogh, Westwood.

Poland: Fabianski, Olkowski, Szukala, Glik, Wawrzyniak, Peszko, Krychowiak, Jodlowiec, Rybus, Lewandowski, Milik

Subs: Szczesny, Cionek, Komorowski, Linetty, Teodorczyk, Maczynski, Mila, Janicki, Gajos, Kucharczyk, Wojtkowiak, Boruc.

KICKOFF! All the formalities are over, it's now time for business on the pitch! What an atmosphere at the Aviva!

Coleman gets the ball from deep and charges forward. He streams his way down the right wing past several Polish players but he gets stopped near their box by Wawrzyniak.

A Poland throw deep into the Ireland half falls at the feet of Lewandowski and he is pushed towards the corner by O'Shea. The striker tries to do something with a backheel but it dribbles out for a goal kick.

No chances to report so far, it's mostly been a case of both teams probing forward tentatively and making sense of each other.

Poland are continuing to push forward. Lewandowski forces another throw which the visitors try and work into the box but Ireland clear the danger.

Now Rybus works some space down the right and sends a cross into the Ireland box, but Wilson is on hand to head clear. Poland are just starting to edge things here.

CHANCE! Despite Poland's strong start, the hosts burst forward and carve out the first chance of the game as Walters's free kick in the middle of the Polish half is played quickly to Hoolahan, who fires wide from just outside the box.

Walters, wearing a protective face mask due to a fractured cheek, tries to break free down the right flank but is thwarted by the Poland left-back.

More pressure from Ireland as Hoolahan and McCarthy exchange passes before the Everton man whips a cross intended for Keane, but Poland manage to get the ball away.

Hoolahan is given a dressing down by the ref but avoids a booking, as Ireland push forward and earn a corner which Brady takes but is easily cleared by the Poland back line.

CHANCE! A free kick from Rybus is floated towards the back post and finds the unmarked head of Krychowiak, but the Sevilla man cannot direct his effort on target. He should have done much better there.

If anybody wonders why Scotland are below Germany in the table despite having a better goal difference, the reason is that teams level on points in qualifying are separated first by head-to-head record.

Poland enjoyed a 2-0 win in October over Germany, who themselves beat Scotland 2-1 in September. That means that Poland are top, Germany second and Scotland third.

Krychowiak powers forward with the ball before picking out Lewandowski, wide on the right. The Bayern Munich man tries to turn to goal but is crowded out.

Poor defending from Ireland as Wilson and Brady make a mess of clearing the ball on the right, allowing Peszko to pick the ball up, cut inside and smash a powerful shot past Given. First blood to Poland!

BOOKING: Prior to the goal, Hoolahan picked up the game's first yellow card for a challenge on Szukala.

The Poland fans went wild as their team broke the deadlock. Plenty of noise and flares aplenty.

BOOKING: Ireland have it all to do and are trying to push forward, but Poland are not letting them through. O'Shea is the second Irish player to go into the book for a block on Lewandowski.

CHANCE! It's a free kick to the visitors following the foul, as Rybus fires wide of Given's left-hand post. Ireland seriously under the cosh here.

CHANCE! Well, technically speaking. Wawrzyniak takes Coleman out near the corner flag on the right but gets away with it. Brady takes the resulting free kick but it sails high above the crossbar.

Brady surges down the left wing but doesn't get the cross in on time as Krychowiak goes in with a perfectly timed tackle to dispossess the Irishman.

Hoolahan finds the run of Coleman, but the Everton man's touch lets him down and the ball goes behind for a goal kick. Glik had that covered anyway.

A bit of tactical shifting for Ireland as Walters moves towards the centre, McGeady shifts to the right and Hoolahan heads to the left.

Hoolahan's cross takes a deflection as it heads into the box, but Fabianski is able to make the catch. Not long to go until half time now and Ireland have it all to do after the restart.

CHANCE! Ireland applying pressure on Poland as they whip the ball into their box, with McGeady collecting, weaving past two defenders and firing just wide. We're talking inches here.

BOOKING: It's a third booking for Ireland as Coleman goes into the book for a pull near the corner flag. The resulting free-kick is then floated in but it's cleared.

A few boos and jeers from the home fans as both teams head into the dressing rooms at the break. Plenty of noise from the Poland supporters though.

Poland edged the first half and made the most of their one concrete chance to take the lead here at the Aviva. Former Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Peszko's thumping strike is all that separates the two teams.

Ireland had a fair bit more possession though, 56 percent compared to Poland's 44 percent. Two efforts for the hosts compared to four for the away side, and just one effort on target in all of the 45 minutes - Peszko's piledriver.

Defeat tonight would not be fatal for Ireland's chances of qualification but it would make things ever so difficult. Fabianski has not been troubled at all tonight so O'Neill will surely have to contemplate making a few changes.

The game is far from over, but Ireland really need to step it up if they are to get anything from it. Poland have been on top, buoyed by a loud and passionate set of fans here at the Aviva, while Ireland haven't had a shot on target in 75 minutes of football, apparently.

KICKOFF: Poland get the second half underway. No changes for either side at the break.

A false start - if there is such a thing in football kick-offs - as Walters jumps the gun. We get underway at the second attempt.

Brady gets some space on the left flank and whips a cross the way of Walters, but Poland are able to clear the danger. Promising start for the men in green.

Lewandowski is fouled by O'Shea, the referee awarding a free kick to Poland. It's sent forward, but Wilson manages to clear. Similar to the start of the first half in terms of both sides probing and feeling the opposition out.

BOOKING: Gilk is the first Polish player to go into the book for clattering into Keane. He will now miss his side's next qualifier.

Brady stands over the free kick, about 40 yards out, and whips it forward, but yet again, Poland clear the set piece with ease. Another potentially good chance wasted.

AGAINST THE POST! Wow, that will have awakened the home crowd here at the Aviva! Brady charges down the left and swings a cross into the box. It takes a deflection off Olkowski and has Fabianski beaten as it heads towards goal, but the ball cannons off the post!

Ireland, perhaps buoyed from their earlier effort, are pushing forward at every opportunity now, as Coleman takes the ball and tries to find Keane, but the talismanic striker is unable to keep up and Poland regain possession.

BOOKING: Szukala is booked for hauling down Walters, but once again Brady's dead ball delivery is poor as he fires the resulting free kick over the bar.

Glik goes down and appears to be a lot of pain after scooping the ball away from McGeady.

Fortunately for the visitors he recovers and is back on as Ireland push forward again. Brady is involved once again as he cuts inside before firing a shot which is deflected out for a corner.

CHANCE! The momentum is with Ireland now as the corner is swung in. Wilson leaps up and gets his head on the ball but it's straight at Fabianski.

CHANCE! Down at the other end Wilson gives away a dangerous free kick 35 yards out. Rybus floats the ball to the back post but Given claims it.

CHANCE! Ireland continue to apply pressure and it almost leads to the ball falling for Keane before Hoolahan thumps a shot well wide. Poland's back line was panicking there.

SUBSTITUTION: Aiden McGeady comes off for the hosts and James McClean comes on.

CHANCE! Coleman bursts down the right flank and lashes a cross the way of Walters, but he connects poorly and fails to trouble Fabianski.

BOOKING: Wilson takes out Lewandowski and is shown a yellow card for his troubles.

OFF THE POST! My oh my, Ireland are now dominating this! McClean sends a deep cross towards the back post which falls perfectly for Keane, but the resulting header rebounds off the post!

That would have been the Los Angeles Galaxy man's 66th goal for Ireland. Will they succeed in finding that so far elusive goal here which would bring them level in the game and keep them with a chance of qualification?

Milik is brought down by a hefty McClean challenge in the middle of the park. One of those legit tackles that says "just letting you know I'm here, son!" He's been lively since his introduction, the Wigan man.

Ireland continue to probe forward, but have no joy trying to get the ball to McClean so they try the opposite flank, where Coleman manages to send the ball into the box, but Poland clear their lines before Walters can get near it.

Keane finds his way into the box and pulls the ball back for Hoolahan to shoot, but Olkowski pulls off a defiant block to thwart the danger. Ten minutes to go here and Ireland desperately trying to get something from this game!

McClean gets to the byline again and sends yet another promising cross towards the middle, but none of his teammates are there to latch on. How frustrated must the home fans at the Aviva be right now?

CHANCE! Seriously, McClean should have started this game. Yet another dangerous cross from the substitute falls to Keane, who lays it off for Coleman. He is perfectly positioned, but the ball is shanked wide!

SUBSTITUTIONS: Shane Long is on for Glenn Whelan while Sebastian Mila replaces Arkadiusz Milik.

BOOKINGS: McCarthy raises his hands to the face of Mila, which leads to some scuffling and yellows for McCarthy and Peszko, possibly for dissent.

SUBSTITUTION: Slawomir Peszko, the goalscorer, is replaced by Michal Kucharzyk.

McClean has been Ireland's standout performer since he came on but his latest cross is poor as the ball floats over everyone and goes out for a goal kick.

CHANCE! It's now or never for Ireland as Brady's free kick from 45 yards out is swung into the box where Fabianski, under severe pressure, punches clear for a corner.

Joy and delirium in the Aviva as the home fans go wild thanks to Long's late, late equaliser! The corner is whipped in at the back post, where Hoolahan flicks it on with his head and the substitute stabs it over the line!

Five added minutes here in Dublin, by the way.

Late forays from both sides in injury time lead to nothing as the final whistle blows on an engaging, dramatic game here at the Aviva! So after a poor first half, Ireland worked their way back into the game, culminating in a climactic finish as Shane Long's equaliser cancelled out Slawomir Peszko's opener. The final score is 1-1 and Ireland are still in with a shout of reaching Euro 2016!

Judging by the stats, Ireland deserved to get something out of that game. 57 percent possession compared to Poland's 43 percent, 13 chances compared to six for the visitors, and three shots on target compared to Poland's solitary effort - which led to their goal.

That's three late goals for Ireland in their five qualifiers. Never-say-die spirit or... wait for it... luck of the Irish? I'm here all week.

So for the all-important standings: Poland remain top of Group D on 11 points, but Germany and Scotland are snapping at their heels on 10 points. Meanwhile the Republic of Ireland are fourth on eight points. Georgia are all but out with three points, and UEFA debutants Gibraltar prop up the table with nul points and a goal difference of minus 26.

Well, it's time for me to head off, but I hope you all enjoyed the game and Sports Mole's coverage! Until next time, bye bye and all the best!

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