Euro 2016 Play-Offs: Republic of Ireland vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina 2nd-Leg Score

Ireland booked their ticket to UEFA Euro 2016 with a 2-0 win in the second leg of their play-off battle with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday.

Jonathan Walters was the hero with two goals, making the score 3-1 on aggregate after the two teams played to a 1-1 draw during the first leg.

Bosnia dominated possession but showed very little in terms of creativity, never really threatening the Irish goal. The hosts were fortunate to take the lead thanks to a dodgy penalty, but over the two matches, Ireland certainly deserved to win the tie.

Ireland manager Martin O'Neill kept Shane Long on the bench in favour of Walters, via Footy Accumulators:

Predictably, Irish fans were extremely nervous ahead of the opening whistle, but the Aviva Stadium was as loud as it's been for a football match for some time. Veteran footballer Ian Harte hoped for the best, but the guys running UEFA Euro 2016's official Twitter account assumed he too was feeling anxious:

The Bosnians opened the match with plenty of possession, but Ireland looked far more dangerous and fluid in the passing movements. Walters' movement up front created plenty of space, and out wide, Robbie Brady was finding some success.

James McCarthy launched Ireland's first real counter-attack that immediately led to some danger, but Asmir Begovic was equal to the task.

Paddy Power loved what it was seeing from the hosts, although it perhaps took it a bit too far:

Edin Visca and Miralem Pjanic started finding each other in Bosnia's passing game, but it didn't lead to any real chances early. Edin Dzeko looked fairly isolated, hardly troubling the Irish defenders in the opening 10 minutes.

On the other side of the pitch, Jeff Hendrick couldn't get over the ball in time after a promising free-kick into the box, and his first-time shot flew well wide of the Bosnian goal.

Emir Spahic was handed the first yellow card of the match for a foul on Hendrick, and he immediately committed another foul in a dangerous area, as the match started to get physical. And just as the Bosnians appeared ready to lose their composure, referee Bjorn Kuipers pushed them over the edge, awarding a penalty for a phantom handball from Ervin Zukanovic.

In the aftermath, Senad Lulic was booked for protesting, but the Bosnians' anger was understandable, as the decision was an absurd one.

Even Irish comedian Dara O'Briain agreed it was a terrible call:

AS English joined in on the fun:

Walters didn't care one bit, however, keeping his composure and slotting the ball past Begovic. The goal didn't change anything for Bosnia, who knew coming into the match they would have to score, but it did mean the match would go to extra time if the visitors did indeed find the net once.

Outraged by the perceived injustice, the Bosnians started to vent their frustration on the Irish forwards, and Spahic was lucky not to get sent off just minutes after the goal for a wild foul on Wes Hoolahan.

After a tense few minutes, the visitors started to get a grip, and Dzeko came close to pulling his team level, firing over after a lovely ball from Pjanic. Bosnia took control of the midfield proceedings, and Visca looked particularly threatening, but the Irish defence did well to limit spaces and gave up few chances.

For all of their possession, Bosnia couldn't threaten Darren Randolph in the closing minutes, and the score remained 1-0 heading into half-time.

BBC 5 Live's Conor McNamara couldn't help but take a shot at Irish fans:

Bosnian football writer Sasa Ibrulj thought Spahic had to stay in the dressing room for the second half to keep his team's chances alive:

The visitors started the second half the way they finished the first, dominating possession and prodding their way toward an opening. Haris Medunjanin tried his luck with a wild shot, but Randolph made an easy save to deny him the equaliser.

Ireland were taking a lot of risks with a low defensive line, and Richard Keogh had to make a last-ditch clearance to stop Ognjen Vranjes from putting the ball in a dangerous area.

Bleacher Report UK didn't like their efforts on the other side of the pitch:

Long came on for Daryl Murphy, as Ireland tried to get a hold on proceedings and push for a second goal, but Bosnia were in full control at this point, pushing Ireland back deep into their own half.

Pjanic became increasingly frustrated with the lack of space, playing several poor passes as his concentration seemed to waver. This lifted the pressure on the Irish defence, and space started opening up for the counter-attack.

O'Briain was still nervous, however:

Hendrick tried his luck with an ambitious shot after a poorly cleared corner, but his shot flew miles wide of the target, to the agony of the Aviva crowd.

Spahic again escaped justice after a wild challenge on Walters, which should have resulted in a dismissal, and from the resulting free-kick, Walters doubled the hosts' advantage.

Vranjes failed to clear the ball, and the forward calmly put the ball past Begovic from a tight angle.

Paddy Power voiced what a lot of Irish fans were probably thinking:

Long came close to adding a third minutes later after a poor pass back to Begovic, which the speedy forward intercepted. Sead Kolasinac returned just in time, however, nudging Long just as he tried to get his shot off.

Bosnia desperately pushed for a goal of their own, but there was little discipline left in the side, with several players clearly no longer believing in their chances. Long and Zukanovic were involved in a minor altercation, and to his credit, Long tried to defuse the situation after initially challenging the Bosnian.

The Irish were a little lucky not to concede after a corner kick resulted in a wild scramble inside the box and Vedad Ibisevic struck the post in injury time, but Ireland's defence held firm, and the home fans burst into wild celebrations after the final whistle.

Ireland may lack the talent of some of Europe's top football nations, but their discipline and organisation will make them a difficult side to break down at Euro 2016. After their dreadful showing in 2012, expect the Irish to put up a better fight next summer.

Post-Match Reaction

Manager O'Neill expressed how proud he was in his players following, the win, per BBC Sport's Neil Johnston:

"

I couldn't be more proud of this team.

They have been absolutely fantastic right from the start when Aiden McGeady scored to win 2-1 in our opening qualifier in Georgia. I thought then that the points could be crucial. 

I hold the players in the highest esteem. They don't have everything, but courage and determination are things they have in abundance.

"

Scorer Walters called it the best night of his career:

"

There was a whole team of heroes out there - we got there in the end. It is the best moment of my career in any shirt - to qualify for the European Championship finals is unbelievable. You've got to take in this atmosphere, these moments don't come around in a career very often. The management team deserve lots of credit - they have been excellent throughout the campaign.

"

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