Grzegorz Krychowiak opened the scoring on 13 minutes, before a controversial penalty saw the visitors - who needed a win, a 2-2 draw or higher to progress - get back into the contest through Jonathan Walters.

Robert Lewandowski headed home shortly before the break, and the Poles doggedly defended their lead, with John O'Shea sent off late on, to seal their passage into France.

Here, Sports Mole sorts the heroes from the villains on a night which saw the end of Group D.

Poland's midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak scores a goal during the Euro 2016 Group D qualifying football match between Poland and the Republic of Ireland at the Stadion Narodowy in Warsaw on October 11, 2015. © Getty Images

POLAND

Goal

Lukasz Fabianski: Known as 'Flappyhandski' once upon a time but the former Arsenal man was solid as anything tonight. Guessed the right way for the penalty too, but it was too good from Walters. (7/10)

Defence

Lukasz Piszczek: Looked a menace going forward at times but not enough. Still, the Pole never looked troubled by McLean or Brady. (6/10)

Kamil Glik: Shackled Long well; a bit too well, after injuring the Southampton striker on 55 minutes. Never looked worried in defence. (7/10)

Michal Pazdan: Hugely unlucky to concede the penalty, given that his high boot on Long came outside the penalty area. Still, he was solid alongside Glik. (6/10)

Jakub Wawrzyniak: Barely put a foot wrong, worked hard on the left-hand side of defence and will be hugely relieved that Coleman did not fancy doing too much attacking. (7/10)

Midfield

Pawel Olkowski: Brady could not put a glove on him in the first half as he tormented the visitors time and time again from the right, but he dipped in the second period. (6/10)

Grzegorz Krychowiak: Opened the scoring in fine fashion and the Sevilla man was simply the coolest player on the park. Should have added a third goal in the final quarter, but he already had more than enough money in the bank. (8/10)

Karol Linetty: Did not allow McCarthy and Whelan an inch in which to hurt Poland in midfield as he sat alongside the devilishly good Krychowiak. (6/10)

Krzysztof Maczynski: Set up Poland's second goal with a fine floated cross for Lewandowski, and saw one harshly ruled out himself in the first half. (6/10)

Kamil Grosicki: Could, and should, have added a third goal but Randolph denied him. Still, he was Poland's most dangerous attack-minded player on the night and caused plenty of problems. (7/10)

Attack

Robert Lewandowski: Scored the crucial second goal but certainly did not look like the red-hot Bayern Munich striker that has been ripping up the Bundesliga this term. (6/10)

Substitutes

Jakub Blaszczykowski: Kept things ticking over in attack after replacing the tired Olkowski. (6/10)

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Goal

Darren Randolph: Full international debut for the West Ham United man but he did not look one bit fazed, despite the occasion, and pulled off some fine saves. (7/10)

Defence

Seamus Coleman: Far and away Ireland's best defender on the night as the right-back - who had not played in a month - pulled off some crucial blocks, but he did not venture forward enough. (6/10)

Richard Keogh: Missed an excellent chance with 10 minutes left, and inexplicably failed to mark Lewandowski moments before Poland's second. One to forget for the Derby man. (3/10)

John O'Shea: Never got to grips with Lewandowski, often going far too tight on the Bayern man in a sense of overkill which ultimately got him sent off for two yellow cards. (3/10)

Robbie Brady: Had some good moments, but his passing and delivery was uncharacteristically poor throughout the 90 minutes. (4/10)

Midfield

Jeff Hendrick: More or less a passenger for the entire game, Hendrick spent 90 minutes on the periphery of the clash. (3/10)

James McCarthy: Looked to have paid a steep price for his tireless display against Germany as the Everton man looked rather sluggish at times this evening. (4/10)

Glenn Whelan: Krychowiak made a mug of him on a number of occasions, though the Stoke midfielder did have one of Ireland's three shots on target, but it was never troubling Fabianski. (5/10)

James McLean: Embarked on a few mazy runs but he never looked like being the man to change this game for the Irish. (5/10)

Attack

Jonathan Walters: Fantastic penalty to equalise, even if the awarding of it was hugely controversial, but the Stoke man did precious little else and could have done more to prevent the second goal. (6/10)

Shane Long: Superb energy as he constantly put pressure on Poland's defence, but his night was ended on 55 minutes following a challenge from Glik. (6/10)

Substitutes

Robbie Keane: Had well over half-an-hour in which to influence things, but the veteran striker did not have a sniff. (4/10)

Wes Hoolahan: Occasionally showed flashes of the trickery that flummoxed Germany during the week, but not regularly enough to affect the game. (5/10)

Aiden McGeady: Hugely hit and miss cameo from the ex-Celtic man, but he should have had an assist when Keogh sent his header straight at Fabianski. (4/10)