Republic of Ireland U-21 2 Russia U-21 0
The Republic of Ireland rose to the challenge set by manager Don Givens to "go out in style" as they scored an impressive win over Russia at Waterford.
Givens will bring in a fresh crop of players from the under-20 squad for the final qualifying match in Switzerland next month, which meant this game marked the last chance for the majority of the team to make an impression on senior manager Brian Kerr.
Liam Miller, Andy Reid and Thomas Butler all stood out, but Coventry striker Graham Barrett stole the headlines by grabbing the first goal and playing a key role in the second on his 25th cap.
After an impressive first half, Ireland took the lead after 65 minutes with the move of the match, and showed quick thinking to double the lead after 81 minutes.
The result avenged the 2-0 defeat in Moscow a year ago and also extended the team's unbeaten run to five matches.
The Republic started brightly and had a great chance to take the lead in only the fourth minute but Celtic's Miller was denied by the woodwork.
Barrett won a free-kick on the left flank when a Russian defender handled and the cross was whipped in by Butler.
The ball ran through to Miller at the back of the six-yard box, but it did not sit kindly for him and when he looped it over the goalkeeper it came back off the crossbar, and the visitors scrambled clear.
The crowd of about 4,000 fans in the RSC thought Ireland had taken the lead after 22 minutes.
Nottingham Forest winger Reid again did well on the left as he slipped his marker and delivered an inviting deep cross. John O'Flynn met it with a diving header, but with just the goalkeeper to beat he directed the ball just beyond the far post.
Connor, playing on his home ground, came to the rescue again for Ireland after 38 minutes when Arshavin fed Izmailov and the goalkeeper blocked the close-range shot with his legs.
A promising first half for Ireland came to a close with O'Flynn heading narrowly wide from Butler's corner.
Ireland turned on the style in the second period and showed superb movement as they took the lead after 65 minutes.
O'Connor started the move by feeding Butler on the right, and he made a darting run through the middle before switching the ball back out to the right where O'Flynn had made an overlapping run.
Flynn drove in a first time cross and Barrett was unmarked to steer the ball home and celebrate his 25th cap in style. This is clearly a happy hunting ground for the Coventry man, as he also scored here against Holland two years ago.
The lead was doubled after 81 minutes when the Republic took a quick free-kick. Miller fed Butler on the right and his low cross was prodded goalward by Barrett only for the goalkeeper to save. Anton Rogotchi inadvertently bundled the ball home for an own goal.