Full time! It's all over here at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, where Wales have beaten Northern Ireland by a comfortable two goal margin. It was unspectacular, but the Welsh comfortably had the measure of a youthful opposition who seemed to lack both the ability and the will to cause them any problems. Gary Speed will certainly have no complaints over a victory which has ended his side's torrid run of form, and the Wales boss will hope the belief afforded by this result can spur his players on to better performances in the matches to come.

Sudden burst of urgency from Rob Earnshaw, as the striker surges towards the heart of the Northern Ireland defence and finds Sam Vokes with a clever slide rule pass, but the Wolves man is revealed to be offside before his curling shot is well saved by Jonny Tuffey.

Substitution Aaron Ramsey Andy Dorman

That turns out to be Ramsey's last contribution, as the Arsenal star is brought off to be replaced by Crystal Palace midfielder Andy Dorman.

Virtuoso stuff from Wales skipper Aaron Ramsey as he beats two Northern Ireland players on the right hand side before remembering his side already have the game won, and stroking the ball back to Adam Matthews. Wales in complete control of this.

The little intensity which had been present in this game appears to have gone since that second Welsh goal, with Gary Speed's side content to stroke the ball around the middle third of the pitch and Northern Ireland looking disjointed after a number of substitutions.

Wales opt for another change up front as Steve Morison comes off to be replaced by Sam Vokes. Meanwhile for Northern Ireland, Jordan Owens comes on to take his international bow in place of Niall McGinn.

Substitution Niall McGinn Jordan Owens

Substitution Steve Morison Sam Vokes

Nice surging run there from substitute Stuart Dallas, showing some of the energy and attacking intent Northern Ireland have been lacking so far, but he is eventually crowded out by the Wales defence.

Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington decides to bring on another new face, as Robert Garrett comes off for Linfield youngster Carl Winchester.

Substitution Robert Garrett Carl Winchester

Substitution Wayne Hennessey Lewis Price

We now have a change in the Wales goal, as Wayne Hennessey comes off after a quiet evening to be replaced by Crystal Palace stopper Lewis Price.

Substitution Chris Gunter Adam Matthews

Substitution Warren Feeney Liam Boyce

More changes, as Adam Matthews of Celtic replaces Chris Gunter at right-back for Wales, and Northern Ireland exchange Warren Feeney for Liam Boyce.

Goal Robert Earnshaw

GOAL! Rob Earnshaw doubles his tally in the Home Nations Cup and all but assures Gary Speed's first victory as Wales boss. The Nottingham Forest man finished tidily enough, but Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington will be livid at the amount of time the opposition striker had to turn and get a shot away.

Yellow Card Owain Tudur Jones

Wales nearly have a second after another penalty area scramble following Aaron Ramsey's teasing corner, but Danny Collins screws his shot wide. Moments later, David Vaughan misses also fires wide from almost exactly the same position. Northern Ireland hanging on here.

Substitution Craig Cathcart Stuart Dallas

Substitution James Collins Owain Tudur Jones

Substitution Craig Bellamy Robert Earnshaw

Wales manager Gary Speed make two changes, as Rob Earnshaw replaces Craig Bellamy and Owain Tudor Jones comes on for Jack Collison. Nigel Worthington also makes a change, with Stuart Dallas coming on to make his international debut in place of Blackpool's Craig Cathcart.

Bellamy is continuing to be the thorn in Northern Ireland's side though. His lightning pace draws a foul from Colin Coates and a free kick 35 yards out, although the Manchester City winger's subsequent shot is more than a little ambitious and sails well wide.

Northern Ireland have managed to steady the ship a little since that Bellamy chance. They're still under heavy pressure and playing mostly without the ball, but the Welsh aren't carving them open quite so easily.

Craig Bellamy is really unlucky there. Jack Collison ghosts into the Northern Ireland box and pulls the ball back, but Bellamy's first time drive fizzes about an inch past Jonny Tuffey's near post.

The second half is following the same pattern as the first at the moment, with Wales dominating possession and Northern Ireland looking to soak up pressure and break quickly.

Wales get us back underway in Dublin. No changes for either side at half time.

Half time at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, and Wales fully deserve their lead. Northern Ireland initially appeared content to sit deep and attempt fast counterattacks, but their defence has proved too shaky to deal with sustained Welsh pressure, and they haven't had the ball for long enough to trouble their opponents' backline. Gary Speed will be the happier of the two managers at the whistle, although he may feel his side should have converted their dominance into more goals.

Craig Bellamy has been the liveliest player on the pitch so far, and Northern Ireland can't deal with his energy. Moments after he tests Jonny Tuffey with a long range curler, his pass allows David Cotterill to fire off a venomous shot which the beseiged keeper has to beat away.

Almost catastrophe for Wales, as pressure from Niall McGinn causes a defensive mix-up between Danny Collins and keeper Wayne Hennessey, but the Celtic man is unable to capitalise on the confusion.

The Welsh seem buoyed by their goal, and Northern Ireland still can't even get out of their own half, let alone test Wayne Hennessey. There could be more goals before half time...

GOAL! The Welsh have their breakthrough. A couple of hanging crosses from Craig Bellamy cause havoc in the Northern Ireland defence, and a scrambled clearance falls straight for Aaron Ramsey, who smashes home. A just reward for the first piece of quality in the match.

Goal Aaron Ramsey

Wales are camped in the Northern Irish half, but while Gary Speed's side are dominating possession, they haven't been able to play that killer pass. Their opponents just look to be looking to hang on for half time.

The movement of the Welsh midfielders is causing Northern Ireland all sorts of problems. Irish skipper Gareth McAuley trips Jack Collison to concede a free kick just outside the penalty area, which Craig Bellamy curls agonisingly over.

Action at both ends. Danny Collins heads Craig Bellamy's cross just wide for the Welsh, then moments later Niall McGinn's smart turn and low drive forces a decent save from Hennessey.

Welsh left back Neil Taylor gets to the opposition byline and pulls the ball back into the penalty area, but the Northern Ireland defence manage to scramble it clear. Wales beginning to apply serious pressure though.

What a chance! Steve Morison heads the ball back across the Northern Ireland six yard box, but Gareth McAuley manages to get a toe to the ball to put off Aaron Ramsey, and the Wales skipper fires wide from close range.

Good counterattack from Northern Ireland, and only Danny Gabbidon's brave block denies Niall McGinn the opportunity to test Wayne Hennessey.

Good counterattack from Northern Ireland, and only Danny Gabbidon's brave block denies Niall McGinn the opportunity to test Wayne Hennessey.

First sniff of a chance for Wales with Steve Morison running on to a clever David Vaughan pass down the right hand channel, but Colin Coates got back quickly enough to put the striker off his shot.

You can hear a pin drop in the near-empty Aviva Stadium at the moment, and both sides appear affected by the lack of atmosphere, with neither being able to make any clear openings so far.

Wales are controlling this early on, stroking the ball from side to side and probing for an opening. Northern Ireland seem content to sit deep for now and wait for a chance on the counterattack.

And Northern Ireland get us underway in Dublin...

Wales have fielded a fairly strong lineup tonight as manager Gary Speed looks to end his side's run of six successive defeats. They face a very youthful Northern Ireland side with an average age of just 20, and manager Nigel Worthington has only six substitutes to pick from following a speight of withdrawals. The Welsh start as favourites, but it should be an interesting game.

Northern Ireland lineup: Tuffey, Cathcart, McAuley (c), Coates, Hodson; Carson, Norwood, Garrett, Gorman; McGinn, Feeney. Subs: Blayney, Dallas, Boyce, Owens, McQuoid, Winchester.

Wales lineup: Hennessey; Gunter, Gabbidon, D. Collins, Taylor; Collison, Vaughan, Ramsey (c); Cotterill, Morison, Bellamy. Subs: Myhill, Price, Matthews, Eardley, Vokes, Morgan, King, Dorman, Tudor Jones, Easter, Earnshaw

Hello and welcome to Goal.com’s live commentary of Wales v Northern Ireland in the Home Nations Cup. We’ll be guiding you through all the action at the Aviva Stadium as these two sides both look to finish the tournament on a high after losing their first two matches.