Republic of Ireland defender Seamus Coleman has claimed that words would not do justice to the emotion that he felt when Robbie Brady scored the winning goal against Italy on Wednesday night.

Ireland entered the Euro 2016 Group E clash needing all three points to secure their spot in the next round, and Brady's header five minutes from time set up a last-16 tie with France this weekend.

Coleman also reserved special praise for Wes Hoolahan, who missed a golden chance late on, but still managed to provide the cross for Brady to head past Salvatore Sirigu in the 85th minute of action.

"It's hard to describe the emotion when that goal went in. We didn't know if it was going to come, and it came, and it's a night I'll remember forever," Coleman told reporters. "You've got to give Wes a hell of a lot of credit. A lot of players would have had their head down after that, or sulked, but he got on with it and what a delivery.

"Robbie Brady's goal will be remembered for a long time. I'm so happy for all the players, staff, security, all the fans who have been incredible, well-behaved, singing all the way through. I won the toss and chose to shoot towards the Italians first because I knew the fans would suck the ball into the net."

Coleman was handed the captain's armband in the absence of John O'Shea.