Robbie Keane's 49th international goal saw Ireland claim the inaugural Carling Nations Cup with a 1-0 win over Scotland.
Keane grabbed the winner midway through the first half after running 30 yards and firing low under Allan McGregor.
The skipper's place in the history books in international goals scored owes much to the work of the much-maligned Paul McShane.
The defender broke up a Scottish attack, produced several tricks before continuing his surge upfield, which allowed Keane run unchallenged to the edge of the Scottish box.
Despite some frantic late defending, Ireland managed to keep the Scots at bay, although poor finishing from Miller and James Forrest helped.
Victory saw Ireland pick up their first international trophy at senior level since May 1986, when they saw off Iceland and Czechoslovakia in Reykjavik.
That success marked the beginning of a golden period for Irish football and qualification campaign for Euro 88. Giovanni Trapattoni will hope that history repeats itself.
Apart from Ireland's celebrations with the trophy, this tournament has produced few champagne moments. Yet, this was the best game of the competition that has failed to capture the public's imagination.
It had little of the tedium that usually accompanies end of season friendlies, with a vocal Tartan Army doing their bit to heighten the atmosphere.
Giovanni Trapattoni made four changes to the side that thrashed Northern Ireland as Darren O'Dea, Keith Fahey, Liam Lawrence and Stephen Hunt made the starting XI.
Scotland also made four changes as Craig Levein introduced Phil Bardsley and Barry Robson, as well as giving first starts to Grant Hanley and Forrest.
Both sides created openings in the early exchanges, with Charlie Adam and Bardsley trying their luck from range, the latter being brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Given.
At the other end, Simon Cox and Hunt could have done better with half-chances that fell their way.
Scotland were stronger in possession, but once again it was Keane who fired Ireland in front midway through the half.
McShane brushed off Naismith and weaved past Forrest before setting Keane away on a 30-yard run, which ended with the skipper's shot sneaking under McGregor.
The visitors continued to press and Given was called on to keep out Adam's free-kick and another well-struck effort from Naismith.
Scotland were lucky not to go two down after the break when they were caught out by Hunt's quick free-kick to Cox. The striker dragged his shot across the front of goal from ten yards.
Adam, who had been an injury doubt before kick-off, struggled to orchestrate play from deep and was replaced by Barry Bannan midway through the second half.
Barry Robson's in-swinging cross gave Forrest a chance to cap his debut with an equaliser, but the young winger volleyed wide with the goal at his mercy.
The pace of the game slowed and Trapattoni also introduced fresh legs from the bench, with the arrival of Seamus Coleman and Kevin Foley for Lawrence and O'Dea.
Miller had a strong penalty claim turned down when it appeared that Hunt had held him back by the arm. The Scottish striker's protestations earned him a booking.
But Scotland's passion was reignited after that, as first Naismith shinned a volley wide and then Miller drew another parry from Given.
The final chance of a frantic late period fell Miller's way when Naismith put him clean through. The striker held off Stephen Kelly but placed his shot wide of the post and a sprawling Given.
The win and clean sheet will undoubtedly give Ireland confidence and belief for next Saturday's crucial Euro 2012 qualifier in Macedonia.
However, the absence of Richard Dunne from Ireland's back four will be a big blow, with Kelly and a rusty O'Dea likely to be called upon to keep the qualification campaign on track.
Republic of Ireland: 1 Given; 2 McShane, 4 Kelly, 5 O'Dea (12 Foley '66), 3 Ward; 7 Lawrence (13 Coleman 62), 6 Fahey, 8 Andrews, 11 Hunt; 9 Cox, 10 Keane (15 Treacy '83).
Subs not used: 14 Delaney, 16 Forde, 17 Keogh, 18 St Ledger, 23 Randolph.
Booked: McShane, Fahey, Foley.
Scotland: 1 McGregor; 2 Whittaker, 4 Berra, 5 Hanley, 3 Bardsley; 7 Forrest (17 McCormack '86), 8 Brown, 10 Adam (16 Bannan '63), 6 Robson (19 Maguire '75); 11 Naismith; 9Miller.
Subs not used: 12 Gilks, 13 McArthur, 14 Caldwell, 15 Wilson, 20 Martin, 21 Turner.
Booked: Adam, Miller.
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has named his team for tomorrow night's Carling Cup clash against Nigel Worthington's IFA side.
A number of players have already been ruled out including Anthony Stokes, Ciaran Clark and Caleb Folan because of injury, while those involved in the Champions League final and the play-offs also wont feature.
Ireland team:
given, mcshane, kelly, delaney, wilson, coleman or lawrence, andrews, fahey or foley, treacy, keane, cox
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni hailed the performances of his young guns - and one 'old timer' after a convincing and comfortable win over Wales last night.
Trapattoni's side upped the tempo after a tame and goalless first half to power to a 3-0 victory in the opening Carling Nations Cup fixture at the Aviva Stadium.
Superb strikes from Darron Gibson and substitute Keith Fahey sandwiched another effort from the game's outstanding player, Damien Duff, as Gary Speed suffered defeat in his first game as Wales manager.
The goal from veteran Fulham winger Duff was the 31-year-old's first for his country for five years while debutants Ciaran Clark and Seamus Coleman, 21 and 22 respectively, also caught the eye.
Trapattoni said: 'It was a positive result and we deserved it.
'It was important to achieve this with two or three young or new players.
'They played well and showed good personality and they did what I wanted of them.
'Duff also gives the team personality, this is important.
'Players like him are very important at international level and we can win with players like him.'
Ireland now turn their attention to the visit of Macedonia next month as they look to build on their solid start in Group B of Euro 2012 qualifying.
Trapattoni said: 'Macedonia play different football but we have to believe we have the potential.
'Our team is a good team and we can play good football.'
Ireland -- Given, O'Shea (O'Dea 85), St Ledger, Dunne, Clark; Coleman (Fahey 57), Gibson (Wilson 81), Whelan (Green 76), Duff (Keogh 71); Walters, Doyle (Long 45).
Wales -- Hennessey, Eardley (Gunter 45), D Collins, J Collins, Ricketts; King, Vaughan (Ledley 60), Crofts; Church, Earnshaw (Easter 80), Robson-Kanu (Eastwood 67)
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has confirmed his 22-man squad for the Carling Nations Cup opener against Wales at the Aviva Stadium next Tuesday, February 8.
James McCarthy has been added to the senior squad and alongside the inclusion of Wilson, Coleman and Clarke makes for a very exciting blend of young Premiership talent and more experienced campaigners like Keane, Duff, Dunne and Given.
Ireland Squad:
Given (Manchester City)
Westwood (Coventry City)
O'Shea (Manchester United)
Clark (Aston Villa)
Coleman (Everton)
Dunne (Aston Villa)
St Ledger (Preston North End)
Kelly (Fulham)
O'Dea (Celtic)
Wilson (Stoke City)
Gibson (Manchester United)
Whelan (Stoke City)
Paul Green (Derby County)
Lawrence (Portsmouth)
McCarthy (Wigan Athletic)
Treacy (Preston North End)
Duff (Fulham)
Keane (West Ham United)
Walters (Stoke City)
Doyle (Wolves)
Long (Reading)
Best (Newcastle United).
Irish boss Giovanni Trapattoni has spoken for the first time about Robbie Keane’s position as first-choice Irish striker and captain being under possible threat.
Announcing the 29 player squad for the February Carling Cup game against Wales, the Ireland manager said he was "disappointed" that Keane had yet to find a new club and expressed the hope that the Spurs striker still had time to sort out his club future and get back playing on a regular basis.
But while Trapattoni indicated that Keane would benefit from the boost of being selected to play against Wales, his longer-term future in an Ireland shirt now appears much less certain, with even his chances of playing the full game in the Euro Championship qualifier against Macedonia in March dependent on the amount of game time he might get between now and the game.
"If Robbie does not find a club, we can evaluate other options before the qualifying game," said Trapattoni. "We need players with rhythm, mentality, condition. There are situations that might still be open to Robbie. I said to him that all that is important is that he gets a move and plays. It’s not important if he plays Premiership, Championship or in Europe — he could even go to America.
"I don’t know if it’s true if he had an opportunity to go to Birmingham but I do hope now that he immediately gets a move. It’s important that he plays."
Trapattoni would only reluctantly drop his talisman and said that he must balance the issue of Keane’s lack of match sharpness against the effect of the loss of such an experienced player.
"At this moment we can only wait and hope that he immediately gets a move," he said. "Yes, we can make a change but it’s always dangerous to put too much weight on the shoulders of young players. Robbie and Shay Given are not only famous players but great players — although the position of a goalkeeper is different. But we need these two players.
"And the young players also need the older players, because it helps give them added security. I know this from when I was a young player myself. You need balance in the squad. But at the same time, we have Kevin Doyle and Shane Long. And the game against Wales is a good opportunity to evaluate our other options. So, yes, certainly I can start thinking about what we have after Keane but we also have to keep him in mind."
The Football Association of Ireland today announced that tickets for the forthcoming Carling Nations Cup match against Wales in Aviva Stadium on February 8 will go on sale on Monday through www.ticketmaster.ie and the FAI Umbro stores in Carrolls Westmoreland St and Suffolk St, Dublin.
Tickets for neutral supporters attending the clash between Nigel Worthington's IFA team V Scotland, Carling Nations Cup match on February 9 will also go on sale through www.ticketmaster.ie from this Monday, January 10. All tickets for this match will be priced at €20.
Trapattoni said at the initial launch of the competition: 'The Carling Nations Cup is a tournament that we would very much like to win, particularly playing at home in Dublin.
'The matches will provide us with a good opportunity to see our players in games with a real competitive edge at an important time in our bid to qualify for 2012.'
Ireland v Wales, Carling Nations Cup Aviva Stadium, February 8.
General Admission ticket details
Category B - €35
Category A - €50
Fixtures
Feb 8: Ireland v Wales
Feb 9: IFA team v Scotland
May 23: Ireland v IFA team
May 24: Wales v Scotland
May 26: Wales v IFA team
May 27: Ireland v Scotland
Ireland will take on Wales in the opening game of the Carling Nations Cup next year.
The four-team competition, which will be staged in Dublin, will start in February 2011 with NI and Scotland also taking part.
Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland will open proceedings against the Welsh on Tuesday, 9 February with NI and Scotland clashing a day later.
Trapattoni said: 'The Carling Nations Cup is a tournament that we would very much like to win, particularly playing at home in Dublin.
'The matches will provide us with a good opportunity to see our players in games with a real competitive edge at an important time in our bid to qualify for 2012.'
Scotland boss Craig Levein added: 'Now that the schedule has been announced we are really looking forward to our visit to Dublin next year.
'This exciting new competition brings together four groups of passionate fans and also allows me to test my squad, in a competitive environment, in the middle of our Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.'
Carling Nations Cup fixtures:
8 Feb: Ireland v Wales
9 Feb: NI v Scotland
23 May: Ireland v NI
24 May: Wales v Scotland
26 May: Wales v NI
27 May: Ireland v Scotland
