James McClean was the Republic of Ireland hero once again as Martin O'Neill's men took another step towards the World Cup finals with a 1-0 victory in Austria.
West Brom winger McClean netted twice as Ireland won 3-1 in Moldova last month and grabbed the winner shortly after half-time in Vienna with a wonderful goal totally out of place in a largely forgettable game.
Austria's hopes of a play-off spot look remote already and it was not hard to see why after a performance that started in encouraging fashion but tailed off badly.
Having won just one of their opening three pool games the onus was on Marcel Koller's side to seize the initiative early on and they duly obliged, Marcel Sabitzer shooting wide after six minutes and Marc Janko seeing a snapshot smartly saved by Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph.
Only a wonderful challenge from Ireland captain Seamus Coleman prevented the lively Marko Arnautovic from shooting on goal when in a promising position while Sabitzer was unlucky to see his clever chip come back off the bar following a neat ball from the Stoke City forward.
David Meyler, a 24th-minute substitute for the injured Glenn Whelan, started it near to his own corner flag before picking out Hoolahan just inside his own half. The Norwich City midfielder took his time before slipping in McClean and, despite a poor first touch, he drilled a low drive through the legs of Austria goalkeeper Ramazan Ozcan.
It was nearly 2-0 three minutes later, Brady's inswinging free-kick from the right headed in by Walters although the referee's assistant rightly ruled it out for offside.
Louis Schaub stung the palms of Randolph, the uncharacteristically awful David Alaba flashed a 30-yard effort just over before Aleksandar Dragovic's late drive was deflected kindly into the hands of the Ireland goalkeeper.
Austria's final chance, deep into stoppage time, fell the way of Janko, but he was unable to divert Julian Baumgartlinger's volley on target as Ireland held on.
