Republic of Ireland U21 5 Estonia U21 0:A double from striker Anthony Stokes helped Noel King get his reign as Under-21 manager off to a perfect start at Tallaght Stadium tonight as the Republic of Ireland won their first game in Group 2 at the eighth attempt.
After scoring just six goals in seven games up to last night, Ireland found their shooting boots in some style, with Wigan midfielder James McCarthy in brilliant form in the middle of the park.
It wasn’t enough to move them off bottom spot, but they closed the gap on Georgia to two points and also prevented Estonia from jumping above Turkey into second position.
The visitors put the Irish defence under considerable pressure in the opening 10 minutes with goalkeeper Stephen Henderson called into action to clear the danger.
Gradually the home side started to take control with senior international McCarthy looking very comfortable in possession.
It was his long cross into the box after 15 minutes set up Stokes’s opener, the Hibernian marksman smashing home with a great finish.
Eddie Nolan went close with a head from another McCarthy cross before Stokes earned a penalty after he was brought down on the half-hour. The former Arsenal player got up to knock home his second and put his side in complete control.
Stokes would pick up a yellow card for dissent before the break and King’s side had to soak up some pressure as Estonia looked for a way back into the game after the interval.
Substitute Andreo Pebre hit the crossbar with Henderson beaten before the home side starting to gain control again.
McCarthy was at the centre of everything and combined with Stokes only to see his shot saved before grabbing a third.
Stokes was the provider, running past two Estonian defenders before squaring for the midfielder who fired home just after the hour.
McCarthy went off after 80 minutes to be replaced by Ipswich Town’s Conor Hourihane but Ireland were far from finished as they scored two more in the last five minutes.
Seamus Coleman’s effort deflected off an Estonian defender on the way home before Owen Garvan was set-up beautifully by Stokes to claim the fifth in injury time to cap the perfect start for King’s tenure.