Brady admits he barely saw his goal amid Bosnian fog

Martin O’Neill says Jonathan Walters is the epitome of the Republic of Ireland’s “strength of character” ahead of their Euro 2016 play-off second leg against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

One player the Republic will need to keep a close eye on is Bosnia winger Edin Visca, who produced an impressive display in the first leg at the Bilino Polje Stadium, creating Edin Dzeko’s late equaliser.

As the weather conditions deteriorated after the restart, O’Neill insists he was concerned the game may have been called off. The Ireland boss admitted he barely saw Brady’s goal — but he saw enough to praise his men’s fighting spirit on a night where the hosts displayed most of the attacking intent.

Both Sunderland’s John O’Shea and Southampton’s Shane Long were able to take part in training on Sunday after injury, but it is unlikely either will start the game.

Long, who missed the first leg in Zenica on Friday night through injury, was involved in yesterday’s warm-up in Abbotstown before the closed section of the session got under way.

“If you’d thought that we’d have to win in the Aviva for the final time, you probably would have taken that”.

“I’ll see how they come out of today’s training and how they feel but the very fact that they’re here is good news for us”. I think Bosnia are capable of scoring a goal and we will have to play very, very strongly again.

“If we had a fully fit squad I may not have started, but I was happy to go out there and give it my best”.

Asked about the contribution of manager Martin O’Neill and assistant Roy Keane, Walters said: “They’ve been excellent through the whole campaign”.

Ireland struck first when Robbie Brady made full use of the fog to launch a deceptive low gravity shot that managed to slip under the glove of Asmir Begovic and bank that precious away goal. It’s important that we play an organised game, try to be as compact as possible and try to also limit our mistakes, that’s important. “If we get beaten, it won’t be through a lack of trying”.

“The onus is on us now”, said O’Neill.

“I think the motivation is there”, O’Neill told reporters in Dublin.

“It’s more special because it means so much to a lot of people, naturally the players first and foremost, but to the nation as a whole, the crowd that we will bring to France – and they have graced other tournaments when we have qualified – and it is really special”.

While captain Robbie Keane was Ireland’s top scorer in Group D with five goals, all of those came in the two games against whipping boys Gibraltar and he’s since lost his place in the side. “He’s not taking numerous accolades, but he’s been fantastic for me, the backroom staff, and of course the players”.