Red card: Alexandru Gaţcan inexplicably throws his head towards Arter who had clearly wound him up with the challenge moments earlier. Gaţcan will take a bath a couple of minutes earlier than the rest of his teammates.
90' +1
H. Arter gets yellow.
Yellow card: Harry Arter collects a needless booking for a late challenge by the corner flag.
90'
This has been the epitomy of a game petering out as the Moldovan team have little to play for. While they have hustled and harried they have only tested Randolph's goal once with Pascenco's effort from outside the box in the first half.
88'
While Cociuc's earlier effort was deemed embarrassing, that was equally poor from Gheorghe Anton as the midfielder found a pocket of space behind David Meyler before troubling Row Z behind Randolph's goal.
85'
Republic of Ireland have five minutes remaining to see out before they set up an almighty clash on Monday evening away to Wales. McGeady fluffs his lines on the wing trying to impress too much trying to beat three Moldovan defenders and it's out for a throw to the visitors.
83'
S. Maguire enters the game and replaces S. Long.
Substitution: A very popular change around the ground as former Cork City striker Sean Maguire enters the field. His first international appearance, he bagged an impressive 20 goals for Cork last season before his move to Preston North End. He comes on for Long.
82'
The substitutions have given a slightly renewed energy to quite a lengthy lull throughout the second half. Perhaps O'Neill and his assistant Roy Keane are looking at potential systems and partnerships ahead of what looks like a tasty clash in Cardiff.
79'
H. Arter enters the game and replaces D. Murphy.
V. Ambros enters the game and replaces S. Plătică.
A. McGeady enters the game and replaces W. Hoolahan.
Substitution: O'Neill opts to make a couple of changes with just over 10 minutes remaining, first bringing on Aiden McGeady in place of Wes Hoolahan.
Substitution: To complete the trio of changes, Vladimir Ambros comes on for the visitors to replace Sergiu Plătică.
Substitution: Daryl Murphy, scorer of the brace of goals that separate the two sides, is brought off to give Harry Arter a run out.
75'
The Republic of Ireland players seem to have retereated into quite a defensive formation seemingly content with the two-goal margin of victory. Long eventually breaks and the ball finds it's way over to Christie, he beats his man remarkably well on the byline but his cross is safely into the hands of Cebanu.
72'
He might have been impressive since being introduced but that was embarrassingly bad from Cocuic as he sliced a half volley high and wide from the edge of the box.
Minute
Description
70'
WIth 20 minutes remaining Ireland look to have the three points in the bag and keep that gap to Wales down to just one point.
68'
Radu Ginsari slips in Platica down the right but his cross is woeful and is sliced out of play for a goal kick. Moldova's early pressure in this second half has wained slightly and they look unlikely to add to their Group D total of two points this evening.
65'
Hoolahan and Christie prove too hot to handle down the right eventually earning themselves a corner which the latter floats to the back post, however, Duffy can't keep his header down.
63'
Cocuic has certainly made his mark on the game as he fires a shot from 20 yards straight down the throat of Randolph.
61'
AGONISING FOR LONG: Just as subsitute Cociuc fails to connect with a cross at the other end, Ireland break three on three with Hoolahan. He slips in O'Dowda on the left whose shot is deflected into the path of Long. The former Hull City striker pokes his effort inches wide of the post.
59'
Without any real penetration or major threat Moldova have more than held their own in the first 15 minutes of the second half as the small factioni of visiting supporters made their voices heard at the Aviva Stadium.
56'
There's been a more even feel to the second half as the visitors whip in another corner for Randolph to deal with. O'Neill certainly won't want to allow Moldova a path back into the game for a potentially nervy end to this game.
55'
E. Cociuc enters the game and replaces A. Dedov.
Moldova manager Dobrokolskiy, in his second spell in charge of the national team, has opted to make an early change replacing Alexandru Dedov with Eugeniu Cociuc.
54'
It's been quite a long ball affair in this second half, which hasn't really suited Long as the focal point. Hoolahan finally puts his foot on the ball but can't weave his way through the Moldovan back-line.
51'
It looks set to be quite a strategic second-half display from the hosts as they look to kill any intensity in the game. That is being reflected in quite a flat atmosphere. Perhaps O'Neill could hand a national team debut to Sean Maguire to liven things up later in the game.
48'
Middlesbrough keeper Randolph requires three attempts to collect a Moldovan corner as Ireland don't exactly appear to have made an as thunderous start to this second period as they did the first.
47'
Moldova win a free kick followed by a corner, controlling early possession in this second half. Hopes of them ending an 18-game losing streak seem faint with their previous win a qualification campaign coming in 2013 through a 5-2 victory over Montenegro.
46'
Republic of Ireland kick us off in this second half, looking to maintain their one point gap beind Wales with just one qualification fixture remaining against Chris Coleman's men.
44'
Jeff Hendrick, fresh from his match-winner at Everton last weekend, sees his half-volleyed effort deflected over the bar. From the resultant corner Duffy heads over.
42'
The free-kick is whipped in to a dangerous area as Clark works himself into a position for a free header at goal, which sails harmlessly wide of Cebanu's left-hand post.
41'
A. Rozgoniuc gets yellow.
Artiom Rozgoniuc is shown a yellow card for a reckless foul 25 yards from goal.
Moldova have shown glimpses of promise in an attacking sense in this first half. They fail to make the most of a breakaway, lose possession and now look under threat of conceding a third as Hoolahan stands over a free-kick 25 yards from goal....
40'
Christie this time decides to throw short working it well to Hoolihan for break dangerously from the byline. On his favoured left foot he fails to find a green shirt in the box.
37'
The atmosphere been quite tame in the last ten minutes as we apporach the half-time whistle. Yet again it's O'Dowda bursting down the left raising the decibels around the Aviva but Long can't get across his man to meet the 22-year-old's cross.
34'
Great build up play from the hosts is wasted as Middlesbrough's summer signing Christie floats his cross into the hands of Cebanu.
32'
Slightly sloppy play from the Green Army allows Igor Doborokolskiy's side another chance to halve the deficit from a corner but Randolph collects comfortably.
30'
It's Alexandru Dedov's turn to fire a warning shot at Randolph's goal as the visitors enjoy a succession of corners. At the other end O'Dowda is inches away from breaking through being denied a one-on-one opportunity by a last-ditch tackle.
27'
SPECTACULAR SAVE: Darren Randolph keeps his wits about him to produce a fine finger-tipped save to deny Sergiu Platica from range. Platica showed great technique with a half-volley destined for the top left corner but it's instead pushed over for a corner.
26'
The long throw is a integral piece of Ireland's game leading to Murphy's first of the evening. The Moldovan defence again fail to deal with it as Christie's throw caused havoc in the box before being eventually cleared.
24'
Republic of Ireland have a fantastic home record under Martin O'Neill winning five and drawing four. Their last outing against table-toppers Serbia represented their first defeat under his stewardship.
21'
A more settled feel around the Aviva Stadium as Ireland enjoy a spell behind the ball forcing their opponents into mistake. One loose ball eventually creates a chance for Long at the back post who sees his goalbound effort saved. The rebound falls back to the Southampton striker but it's cleared on the line.
19'
D. Murphy has scored a goal for Republic of Ireland! Assist by S. Ward.
Assist Stephen Ward
GOAL!! MURPHY AT THE DOUBLE: Stephen Ward puts in a fantastic cross to the back post following Wes Hoolahan's cross-field ball. Murphy stretches every sinew to redirect the cross with his header dropping in at the back post past the despairing hands of Cebanu.
18'
Shane Duffy stretches to block a low cross from the wing, inadvertantly sparking a counter for Long to latch onto however he finds himself in an offisde position.
16'
O'Dowda has made an influential start to the action here in Dublin. He breaks down the left and puts in on a plate for Shane Long who really should have done better 12 yards from goal.
14'
While the Green Army are controlling the vast amount of possession here, the visitors swarm forward again in their all yellow kit breaking into Randolph's box but failing to make their attack pay.
11'
Callum O'Dowda misses a chance to double Ireland's lead. The Bristol City man is taking the usual place of James McClean, who bagged two goals in the win over Moldova in the away leg of this qualification campaign.
6'
Ireland have dominated the opening exchanges here and are looking to make it an intruiging final group stage match as they travel to Cardiff next. While Moldova have only managed a paltry four goals in their campaign so far, they win their first corner of the evening and could pose a threat on the break.
3'
Murphy puts Ireland within touching distance of Wales once more as he latches onto Ciaran Clark's flick on and fires past Modlovan keeper Ilile Cebanu at the near post.
2'
D. Murphy has scored a goal for Republic of Ireland!
GOAL! What a start for Martin O'Neill. Following his two-year contract extension earlier in the week, Daryl Murphy puts his side ahead.
Welcome to our live text commentary of this vital 2018 World Cup qualification fixture between Republic of Ireland and Moldova. The match has taken on must win importance for Martin O'Neill's men following Wales' win earlier today.
Republic of Ireland XI (4-3-3): Randolph, Ward, Clark, Duffy, Christie; Hoolahan, Myler, Hendrick; O'Dowda, Long, Murphy.
Moldova XI (4-3-2-1): Cebanu; Bordian, Racu, Epureanu, Rozgoniuc; Gatcan, Anton, Ionita; Dedov, Platica; Ginsari.
Moldova substitutes: Serghei Pascenco, Koselev, Graur, Antoniuc, Cojocari, Cociuc, Ambros, Alexandru Pascenco, Ojog..
HALF TIME: There's little added on time in Dublin at the end of the first half as Murphy's brace sends them into the break with a comfortable lead.
Veteran striker Murphy proves his worth in the absence of John Walters with two typical strikers goals. The first a poachers' effort at the front post following Clark's flick-on from a long throw, his second a deft header at the back post from Ward's pinpoint cross.
The misery is piled onto basement boys Moldova who have now failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 10 World Cup qualification fixtures. On their first competitive visit to Republic of Ireland shores, they have probed on the break but with just four goals in their qualification campaign so far, it seems unlikely they are to mount a comeback.
FULL TIME: Republic of Ireland get the job done with a 2-0 victory! Martin O'Neill will take his Green Army to Cardiff on Monday night knowing that a win will guarantee his second a second-placed finish. Late drama elsewhere in the group as Serbia fall to Austria in the last minute.
The damage was done early on as 34-year-old Daryl Murphy notched in just the second minute with a real goal-poachers finish. Following this up with an arching back post header, Murphy really showed his value in the absence of Walters and McClean.
In reality the second half was a non-event as no real impetus to add to the scoresheet was displayed, neither had they the need to score to improve their Group D positioning. Ireland now face a must-win final match day fixture in Cardiff while Moldova are condemned to their 19th qualifciation match without a victory.
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