Republic of Ireland 3 Canada 0
Newcomer Andy Reid, Robbie Keane and Damien Duff lit up Lansdowne Road tonight with moments of quality but overall Ireland struggled to shake off their European Championship hangover.
Duff, in particular, captivated those in the stands with the opening goal after 23 minutes. He ran from deep inside his own half and beat three Canadian defenders before sliding the ball home with a neat effort under the goalkeeper.
But until Robbie Keane scored two second-half goals after the hour to nudge within three of Niall Quinn's national record, Canada had threatened to heap embarrassment upon the disappointment of the costly failure in Switzerland last month.
Tomasz Radzinski and Paul Peschisolido both missed fine first-half chances for the visitors - beaten 5-1 in the Czech Republic on Saturday - and Jason De Vos saw an early second-half strike ruled offside.
Eventually Keane found his form with goals in the 60th and 85th minutes to make the score look more reasonable.
And boss Brian Kerr will have been satisfied as he refocuses on the 2006 World Cup, with Nottingham Forest 21-year-old Andy Reid making an outstanding debut in midfield.
Reid provided most of the service for the Irish front men and whipped in the fine left-wing cross from which Keane bundled home his goal.
But Graham Kavanagh's first start in more than four years ended after just 10 minutes when he was forced to hobble off with an injury sustained in a third minute challenge.
Reid had made a confident start, winning a second minute free-kick and causing problems in the box with his resulting set-piece.
Duff's deep cross from the left was cleared by Marc Bircham but any Irish complacency ought to have evaporated after eight minutes when Radzinski raced clear and forced Shay Given to race from his goal to clear.
Reid's through-ball sent Keane clear in the 19th minute but the Spurs front man lofted his shot straight into visiting keeper Lars Hirschfeld's arms.
Keane did better in the 22nd minute to finish off a near-identical pass from Holland but he was ruled offside.
Duff finally sparked the game into life in the 23rd minute after turning McKenna, Jason De Vos and Paul Stalteri inside-out before shooting low under Hirschfeld for his stunning opener.
But Radzinski still threatened and might have done better with his 27th minute shot from 12 yards which was saved comfortably to his right by Given.
Canada continued to have the better chances with Radzinski heading a Peschisolido cross over the bar then Peschisolido and Richard Hastings both mis-kicking in front of goal.
De Vos thought he had bundled Canada level in the 56th minute after Given had palmed a Peschisolido effort into his path, but referee Mark Whitby saved Irish blushes by ruling the Wigan defender offside.
Ireland finally bundled home their crucial second on the hour after more excellent work from Reid.
Reid almost conjured up a goal for Duff two minutes later, sending the Chelsea man into the right side of the box from where he shot into the side-netting.
Ireland began to look more comfortable with Keane's audacious long-range effort just missing and substitute Clinton Morrison going close in the box.
Duff came close to repeating his first half feat nine minutes from time when he ran the Canadians ragged again before McKenna managed to stop him in his tracks.
And Keane finished things off five minutes from time when he turned McKenna in the box and shot home low to Hirschfeld's left for his 18th goal for his country.
PA