At half-time, Scotland were in danger of undoing their good work from Wednesday night and losing top spot in Group 1 of League B of the UEFA Nations League.
John Egan's powerful strike gave Ireland the lead at Hampden Park, simultaneously putting the visitors safe from relegation, going into the last round of games, had things stayed that way.
However, they will now need to ensure they pick up a result against Armenia, in order to remain in League B. Jack Hendry levelled the score shortly after the half-time interval and Ryan Christie tucked away a penalty, late on, to give Scotland the three points.
The comeback win ensures that Scotland will only need a draw from their last game of the group, on Tuesday. They will travel to Poland, to face Ukraine, with a place in League A at stake for both of the teams.
Story of the match
There were a couple of changes from Steve Clark, from their hugely impressive performance against Ukraine, earlier in the week. The injured Nathan Patterson was replaced in the starting lineup, just like on Wednesday evening, mid-match, by Aaron Hickey. Lyndon Dykes also came into the team, after his two goals from the bench, in place of Che Adams.
Gavin Bazunu, Matt Doherty, Michael Obafemi and Egan came into Ireland's 11, from their last match, back in June, against Ukraine.
The hosts started off the match as the more threatening side. A flowing move, which culminated in a neat one-two between Scott McTominay and Dykes, led to the midfielder attempting to find the forward again, but his low cross was well blocked by an Irish defender.
Troy Parrott had the ball in the back of the net, just after the ten minute mark. He did extremely well in the box to find the space to produce an accurate strike. However, the initial through ball to him found the forward in an offside position and the score remained unopened.
A loose touch from McTominay sent Obafemi and Parrott away on a dangerous breakaway for the visitors, after 18 minutes. In the end, it only led to corner, after Parrott's effort was blocked by Jack Hendry.
From that resulting corner, Ireland broke the deadlock. The initial cross was dealt with by Scotland. However, the ball was scrappily worked back into the box, where Egan produced a powerful, low strike, after the ball bounced up nicely onto his right foot, following Nathan Colllins' touch.
Scotland responded with a few half-chances. A through ball to Dykes was narrowly overhit and Stuart Armstrong's cross - which picked out John McGinn, resulted in him being unable to get clean contact on his side-foot volley. By the half-hour mark, the hosts were knocking on the Ireland door, for an equaliser.
However, the visitors were able to calm the building Scottish wave of pressure. Even though the hosts remained in the ascendency for the rest of the first half, they could not create any more significant chances.
The only talking point of the last third of the first period was Parrott being rather fortunate to get away with a tug on Kieran Tierney's arm in the box, during a Scotland corner. The Arsenal player had to be substituted following his landing from that collision, seemingly suffering a concussion. He was replaced by Greg Taylor.
Josh Cullen, after picking up a yellow card moments earlier, also avoided a second booking and subsequent sending-off, following a rough challenge on Hickey.
Hendry sets off hosts' comeback
An action-packed start to the second half was ignited, after Scotland were able to level the score. Shortly after the restart, Taylor's cross into the box, from the left side, was met by Hendry's header. The centre back found himself in plenty of space in the Ireland box, his glancing touch led to the ball clipping the far post, on its way into the back of the net.
Scotland went on to have most of the possession, after their goal. However, it was the visitors, who had the two best subsequent chances, up until the hour mark.
The first of these fell to Doherty. The wing-back had plenty of space down the right side and after finding his way into the box and cutting inside onto his weaker, left foot, he blazed his effort well wide of the goal.
Just a few minutes later, by far the best chance of the game fell to Parrott. A Scotland set-piece led to them being exposed, following a loose pass from Callum McGregor. Obafemi showed tremendous pace and power to avoid Ryan Christie's attempted to take him out and the forward found himself and Parrott breaking away against a sole Scottish defender. Parrott was played in by his partner and found himself one-on-one with Craig Gordon, for what was as clear of a chance to go back ahead, as you could imagine. However, a tame, low shot from the forward was kept out by the keeper.
Following that wasted chance, the visitors continued to look the slightly more threatening team. Another injury to a Scottish full-back meant that Hickey had to be taken off and replaced by Anthony Ralston.
Scotland looked to try and shift the momentum back their way. A good save from Bazunu denied the newly-introduced Ryan Fraser and McTominay was denied an easy headed chance at goal, due to Doherty's diving, headed clearance.
Penalty gifts Scotland golden chance
With just under ten minutes to go, Scotland were gifted an opportunity to complete the comeback and go ahead at Hampden Park. A handball by Alan Browne , in close proximity to McTominay - who won the header from a Scottish corner, led to a soft penalty.
Christie was the man tasked with the responsibility to put the hosts ahead and he slotted his penalty down the middle of the goal, as Bazunu dived to his right side.
Jason Knight, McTominay, Cullen and Hendry were involved in a late confrontation, which led to a red card check for one of them from VAR. However, it was decided to be left at the first two being booked, for their parts in the tussle.
Ireland were unable to break the Scottish resistance in the final period of the game, with the visitors going back home feeling a little unfortunate to not pick up a result tonight.
Player of the match - Jack Hendry
The centre-back found himself in the opponent's box, as he headed in Scotland's equaliser, early in the second half.
He also completed every single one of his 60 attempted passes, on the night. In addition to the clean sheet kept on Wednesday evening, it has been a hugely impressive week from Hendry.
With both full-backs - Tierney and Hickey injured during the game, him and the rest of the team were able to deal with this adversity well enough and pick up an important six points from their two home games, this week.