Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the Republic of Ireland's friendly with Oman in Dublin. The Aviva Stadium plays host as the Irish contest a final warm-up game before kicking off their Euro 2016 qualification campaign with a trip to Georgia on Sunday.

But that is then and this is now. So, let's get into some team news for this one shall we?

Republic of Ireland XI: Given; Meyler, Keogh, Pearce, Ward; Pilkington, Gibson, Quinn, Brady; Hoolahan; Doyle

Oman XI: Al Habsi; S Al Mukhani, A Al Mukhani, Al Ghailani, Al Owaisi; Al Musalani, Al Muhaijri, Al Farsi; Saleh, Al Siyani, Hardan

Right, let's begin with the news of Darron Gibson's inclusion. Tonight will see the Everton midfielder take to the field for the first time in some 11 months after suffering cruciate ligament damage against Kazakhstan back in October. Gibson partners Stephen Quinn, Anthony Pilkington and Robbie Brady in midfield in what seems an experimental first XI from Martin O'Neill. Kevin Doyle, meanwhile, leads the forward line, with Wes Hoolahan in support.

Of course, we also see the return of Shay Given, which is great to see. The 38-year-old goalkeeper blew the dust off his international gloves to come out of retirement and will win his 126th cap tonight. He'll want to give O'Neill some food for thought ahead of Sunday. Welcome back, Mr Given.

On to Oman now and I can tell you that Given is charged with the task of keeping Qasim Said Hardan quiet tonight. The 25-year-old spearheads Oman's attack and will look to mark his 54th international appearance with an eighth goal. If Paul McShane was playing he'd probably leave Dublin on double figures. That's not fair. McShane had a blinder against Stoke City the other week in front of O'Neill and he might think himself a bit unlucky not to have made the squad.

The eagle-eyed among you will also have noticed the name Al-Habsi in Oman's first XI, and yes that is Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi. The 32-year-old is the only player in his country's squad to ply his trade outside of Oman. Despite a lack of high-profile names on the field, however, Oman do boast a familiar face in the dugout: Paul Le Guen.

The Frenchman has enjoyed managerial spells with Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain, Rangers and Cameroon, winning three Ligue 1 titles with Lyon and a Coupe de la Ligue with PSG. How he wound up with Oman we don't really know, but let's not presume that this will be a walk in the park for Ireland because Oman have a coach with plenty of experience and silverware to trouble the Boys in Green tonight.

Can you believe? There's an intersting stat here, and as an Irishman myself I find it particularly depressing: Ireland sit 66th in the FIFA rankings, just one place above Oman. However, Ireland, under then manager Giovanni Trappatoni, beat their Omani counterparts 4-1 when the sides last met back in 2012. Will this one be as close as the rankings suggest, or will one team show up the ranking system for the farce that it is? We'll have to wait. About 10 minutes to kickoff!

It's only a friendly as we know, but O'Neill will be desperate to win this. He has only managed one victory since taking the reins last year, and the former Celtic boss will want his troops travelling to Tbilisi to face Georgia at the weekend with optimum confidence ahead his first competitive outing.

I'm quite thankful this is a text commentary because I don't fancy my chances of pronouncing some of those names accurately.

Team sheet Ireland v Oman. #IrlOma pic.twitter.com/ax9kQg1jnC

— FAI (@FAIreland) September 3, 2014

Prediction: Can an Irish person really offer an unbias, objective prediction on a Republic of Ireland match? No, not really, but I'll do it anyway. 6-0 Ireland. That was a joke. I do think O'Neill's side will edge it, but I don't see it being quite as easy as it's expected to be. 3-1 Ireland. Five minutes until kickoff.

President Michael D Higgins makes his way on to the field to meet and greet both sets of players. The Irish national anthem is playing now so I'm typing this with one hand - the other is resting on my heart obviously. I'm not quite that excited or patriotic.

Richard Keogh skippers Ireland tonight, by the way. He and Ali Al-Habsi exchange some pre-kickoff banter. We're moments away from kickoff now my friends.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we are off here. Ireland get us underway. Let's go!

We've got the first corner of the game already as Robbie Brady's cross is cleared Al Ghailani. It comes nothing and Oman get their first touches of the ball...

Darron Gibson just showing off his passing range, launching a long ball down field to Meyler, but the Hull man was not quick enough to reach it and the pass rolled out for a goal kick. It's a big night for Gibson, who's making his first appearance since October.

Really good from Gibson, who dispossess Al Farsi deep in Oman's half before picking out Hoolohan, whose speculative shot is blocked. It was one of those that you knew would be blocked well before he struck it.

SHOT! We've got our first shot and It's Oman, as Salah leads a promising counter attack forward before squaring to Al Farsi, who takes aim from outside the area but his shot whistles wide. They'll have to watch Salah, who looks a tricky custoer early on.

The visitors are coming into this one more and more. Their earlier shot remains the only effort at goal, but Paul Le Guen's side enjoying a fair bit of possession.

Oman now have their first corner as Robbie Brady miscues a back pass to Shay Given. If they score from this I wouldn't want to be Brady at half time, who'd be in for an ear-bashing from Roy Keane. The corner comes to nothing, fortunately, as Kevin Doyle heads away.

SHOT! Really clever play from Pilkington, who allows the ball to run through his legs and he gallops after it before squaring to Brady, whose shot it blocked but Stephen Quinn fires the rebound wide of the mark. It was not troubling Al-Habsi but promising from the Irish.

Al Farsi has no issue with shooting from range, as the midfielder fires another speculative wide of the post. He's looked Oman's primary goal threat so far.

The Irish have the lead ladies and gentlemen and it's Kevin Doyle, who makes a darting near-post run to glance Robbie Brady's corner past Ali Al-Habsi corner. He is certainly Ireland's primary aerial threat from set pieces so Le Guen will ask a few questions of his team at half time.

'Ole ole ole' rings around the Aviva very briefly. There's not many people inside the stadium so perhaps attempts to get a decent chant started will prove tricky throughout the night. It's one of them where you can hear both managers...

Good response by Oman, who prepare to swing in a corner after Al Siyari reached the by-line and attempted to cut back for the lurking Said but it was cut out. It comes to nothing once again...

Doyle gets another header on target but it's nowhere near powerful enough to trouble Al-Habsi. Quinn's searching ball found Stephen Ward, whose lofted cross was met by Doyle but the Wigan keeper comfortably dealt with it.

CHANCE! Oh dear. Oman really should be level here folks. The visitors lead a swift counter through Said, who is tackled by Meyler but the ball runs on to the advancing Al Farsi who, with just Given to beat, fires a tame shot and Given comfortably holds it. Really poor finish.

OFF THE LINE! Oman need to sort themselves out for set pieces because Al Ghailani has just headed Alex Pearce's goal-bound header away. Well done Al Ghailani. Brady's delivery from corners is really causing problems. This one is opening up a little more now.

OFF THE BAR! This deserved to go in as David Meyler is denied his first Ireland goal. Ali Al-Habsi comes out to punch Brady's curling cross but the ball lands to Meyler on the edge of the area, who attempts to lob the big Wigan keeper but his effort cannons off the bar. Fantastic effort.

Salah goes down for Oman after Doyle backheels his ankle. It looked fairly innocuous and the winger is back on his feet now.

Great tracking back from Stephen Quinn, who sprints after Al Siyari down that right-hand flank and cuts out his cross to concede a corner. Excellent work from the Hull midfielder. If Jack Colback is the ginger Pirlo then Quinn is the ginger Gattuso. Fine performance so far.

Robbie Brady looks to whip in a left-footed free kick just outside the box, but it crashes into the stomach of David Meyler and runs out for a goal kick. It was a decent chance to add to their advantage before the break.

Both sets of players just want to get to half time now I think, which I expect will happen in around a minute. Decent first-half showing...more so from Ireland but Oman have had chances.

Well that was not a bad half of football, but Ireland really should be two or three up. Kevin Doyle headed them into 19th-minute lead but a goal-line clearance and the woodwork have denied Martin O'Neill's side a healthier half-time lead. Oman could, and most definitely should, have levelled up on 29 minutes as Al Farsi spurned a golden chance by firing straight at Shay Given.

BREAKING! James McLean is not involved tonight due to an ankle injury and the Wigan winger will not take part in Sunday's Euro 2016 qualifier away to Georgia either. Still, Hull City's Robbie Brady has looked very decent on that left flank and has swung in a few delicious crosses so O'Neill will not be as disappointed as he might have been.

This is what you get for doubting Kevin Doyle... #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/X7I71TvUky — COYBIG.ie (@COYBIG) September 3, 2014

We're moments away from the restart here and it looks like Robbie Elliot is going to replace Shay Given between the sticks in the only change for the second half. The Aston Villa keeper had only one save to make in that 45 minutes - a crucial one, by the way - but he'll be happy with that on his return to the international fold following a two-year absence.

Right so we're back underway. Oman get us underway, play a hopeful ball forward and lose possession as Elliot gets an early touch of the ball.

We're not sure if the referee is a registered official or just some bloke in a black shirt and shorts, because Pilkington has just literally pushed Hassan Al Ghailani off the ball and got away with it. The luck of the Irish, eh?

The referee has found his whistle as Stephen Ward is called up for his foul on Raed Salah, who looks in some distress here as Omani medical staff treat the winger. He's back on his feet now.

Oman have started this half the better and Al Ghailani just fizzes a dangerous low cross into the area, but it was adjudged to have cross the by-line first. They'll want to produce more of those crosses - providing they're actually in play of course.

HALF CHANCE: You can't fault Doyle's ambition, as the Crystal Palace striker gets on the end of Pilkington delivery and tries to beat Al-Habsi with a header from just inside the box! Suffice to say he didn't beat him and it went well wide.

'Keano' is sung by the home fans, which can only mean one thing: Robbie Keane is coming on. Ireland's record goalscorer looks to be one of three substitutions, as Shane Long and Aiden McGeady join him.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Yep here come the boys. Keane replaces Wes Hoolahan, while Long and McGeady come on for Pilkington and Doyle respectively.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Paul Le Guen also makes three substitutions, bringing in Yaqoob Al Qasmi, Ali Al Busaidi and Ali Al Jabri respectively. Can they influence things? It's only 1-0 so why not?

SHOT! This could've gone anywhere. Eid Al Farsi takes aim yet again, but Richard Keogh throws his body in the way of the shot and it loops over Elliot and the crossbar thankfully.

O'Neill's side lead a good counter-attack through Shane Long, who gallops down the left flank before finding Keane. The LA Galaxy striker tried to poke it past his marker to set up a shot but Al Ghailani averts the danger. Keane will want a goal tonight. I know this because, well, he always wants a goal.

OFF THE LINE! This is fantastic play from both Aiden McGeady and Mohammed Al Musalami. Keane passes to the unmarked Everton winger in the box but, instead of shooting, chops the ball inside on to his left and rolls the ball past the helpless Al-Habsi, but Al Musalami gets across to clear the ball off the line. That's twice that Oman have managed that tonight.

SUBSTITUTION: Darron Gibson is replaced by Glenn Whelan. It was a good shift by Gibson, playing his first game in 11 months following a knee injury. He got a good 70 minutes under his belt here so he'll be happy with that.

Good play from Keane but he should've done better, sprinting past his marker at the byline but, with about four green shirts to choose from, finds an Oman defender who clears the danger.

Free kick in a good area for the Irish now as Whelan is fouled by Al Musalami just outside the box....

It comes to nothing as Robbie Brady steps up and curls left-footed just over the bar. Al-Habsi acted like he had it covered but he wasn't getting it! The Wigan keeper then picked up a camera as he went to retrieve the ball and pointed it toward the Irish fans, who loved it!

SUBSTITUTION: Another Oman sub now as Al Siyabi makes way for Hussain Al Hadhri. 15 minutes left for Paul Le Guen's side to snatch a draw from this jovial affair. I predicted 3-1 but if it stays 1-0 I'm taking some credit because I said it'd be tight.

Some unpleasant scenes now as a stretcher is needed for Eid Al Farsi, who looks in some discomfort. The midfielder, comfortably Oman's best player so far, is replaced by Abdul Aziz Al Muqeali.

That should be that, my friends. Alex Pearce has surely made sure of the win here. Oman fail to clear a corner and the ball falls to Pearce, who evades a few half-hearted challenges, swivels on to his left foot and strokes past Al-Habsi at his near post. Fine finish for a centre-half, and his second goal against Oman following the 4-1 win back in 2012.

CHANCE! Ireland with their tails up now as Keane collects a pass from McGeady before cutting inside on to his favoured right foot and curls just wide of the post.

SHOT! Ireland look determined to get a third here, and it's Keane again, running at the Omani defence before driving a left-footed shot straight at Al-Habsi from outside the box.

OFF THE BAR! McGeady is so unlucky not to get a goal here. The Everton ace, standing just inside the box, goes for the far corner and comes within millimeters of finding it but his effort shaves the top of the crossbar. Fine effort.

Hussain Al Hadhri has just summed up Oman's second half unfortunately, firing into row-z from outside the box in Oman's second effort at goal in this half. They've been rather disappointing.

David Meyler is announced as the man of the match for this one. I'd have chosen Quinn, who has had a fine game.

Well that's all she wrote for this one, my friends. Goals in both halves from Kevin Doyle and Alex Pearce ensure that the Republic of Ireland go into Sunday's Euro 2016 qualifier with Georgia on the back of a victory against a rather poor Oman team it has to be said.

I'll be back on Sunday for that one so I hope to see you there. Goodnight and god bless ladies and gents.