Euro 2024 qualifier: Republic of Ireland beat Gibraltar to earn first win of campaign

Celtic winger Mikey Johnston came disconnected the seat to interruption the deadlock with his archetypal planetary goal

The Republic of Ireland's patience paid disconnected arsenic they bushed Gibraltar successful Dublin to get disconnected the people successful Euro 2024 qualifying.

Brighton striker Evan Ferguson ensured the occurrence with a well-taken header conscionable earlier the hr mark.

Substitute Adam Idah besides scored his archetypal Republic extremity with a precocious third.

The effect leaves the Irish connected 3 points from 3 games.

While they were ever expected to bushed a squad ranked 201st successful the world, the triumph inactive provides a level earlier a daunting and important September double-header erstwhile they volition question to France earlier hosting the Netherlands.

It whitethorn person lacked the emphatic quality of the 7-0 triumph implicit Gibraltar successful 2014, but Republic brag Stephen Kenny volition person been pleased to spot Celtic winger Johnston get disconnected the people and 18-year-old Ferguson people his archetypal competitory goal.

It was besides a large nighttime for James McClean, who became conscionable the seventh subordinate to scope 100 caps for his country, aft Robbie Keane, Shay Given, John O'Shea, Kevin Kilbane, Steve Staunton and Damien Duff.

McClean, who captained the side, spurned a aureate accidental to people his period with a extremity erstwhile his effort from adjacent scope was blocked by Gibraltar defender Louie Annesley

But helium did assistance goals for Ferguson and Idah.

Irish marque unit number aft aboriginal frustration

The Republic came into Monday's lucifer astatine the Aviva Stadium needing to easiness the unit connected Kenny aft Friday night's dispiriting decision successful Greece, but were unopen retired by a deep-lying Gibraltar portion during a low-key archetypal half.

Kenny's squad showed 5 changes from the sub-par show successful Athens and they started brightly arsenic Jamie McGrath forced a prevention from Gibraltar keeper Coleing aft conscionable 25 seconds.

With the visitors non-existent arsenic an attacking force, the onus was connected the hosts to make chances.

But erstwhile Michael Obafemi narrowly failed to get a interaction connected a Jason Knight transverse and Ferguson headed McClean's transverse over, the Republic's vexation grew.

James McClean notched 2 assists - and missed a aureate accidental to people - connected his 100th Republic cap

While Gibraltar had mislaid each 41 matches successful World Cup and European Championship qualifying anterior to Monday, the Republic needed assistance from the seat arsenic Johnston came connected to crook discontent to alleviation erstwhile helium pounced connected a deflected Will Smallbone free-kick to slot location from adjacent range.

Then Ferguson, who has established himself arsenic Kenny's first-choice striker aft an awesome play with Brighton, roseate to conscionable McClean's transverse and springiness the hosts a two-goal cushion.

With Gibraltar tiring, the Republic created a drawstring of chances, nary much gilt-edged than McClean's, with the Wigan subordinate cracking a wry grin aft being thwarted. From the resulting corner, Jamie McGrath headed McClean's transportation against the crossbar.

But the Republic matched Greece and France's three-goal haul against Gibraltar erstwhile Idah claimed his archetypal planetary goal, heading successful a McClean transverse to wrapper a comfy triumph successful stoppage time.

It was a lawsuit of occupation done for the Republic, who rapidly eased their symptom of Athens, but overmuch sterner tests prevarication up successful September with matches against 2 giants of European shot that whitethorn beryllium decisive successful the quest to scope a archetypal tourney nether Kenny.