Stephen Kenny made five changes to the side that lost to England earlier this week. James McClean, Kevin Long, Dara O'Shea, Jayson Molumby and Robbie Brady all came into the team for the Cardiff encounter.
The visitors started the brighter, and could have opened the scoring in the opening minutes through Shane Duffy. Robbie Brady’s effort midway through the opening period shaved the top of the crossbar, but it was James McClean who forced Danny Ward into the only save of the first half.
Wales saw opportunities come few and far between in the opening 45-minutes. Captain Gareth Bale’s freekick was the closest to troubling Darren Randolph.
Ireland dominated the opening period of the second half, with Adam Idah, Duffy and Matt Doherty all having chances, but were unable to find the back of the net.
The home side’s goal came against the run of play. David Brooks got on the end of a Bale header, to score from close range in the 67th minute. Brooks could have doubled the lead ten minutes later, as the home side counter-attacked from an Ireland corner. His shot was brilliantly saved by Randolph.
Both sides had opportunities in the final minutes, with Jeff Hendrick seeing red in added time, after a last-ditch tackle on a counter-attacking Tyler Roberts.
Wales: Danny Ward; Neco Williams, Chris Mepham, Joe Rodon, Ben Davies; Ethan Ampadu, Joe Morrell, Rhys Norrington-Davies (Kieffer Moore 62); Gareth Bale (capt), David Brooks (Tyler Roberts 88), Daniel James
Ireland: Darren Randolph; Matt Doherty, Shane Duffy (capt), Kevin Long, Dara O’Shea (Callum O’Dowda 81); Robbie Brady (Jack Byrne 81), Jayson Molumby (Conor Hourihane 75), Jeff Hendrick; Daryl Horgan (Jason Knight 59), Adam Idah (James Collins 75), James McClean
Referee: Petr Ardeleanu (CZE)