Ireland ease to four-goal win against Gibraltar

Ireland hit four past Gibraltar in Faro as Stephen Kenny's side enjoyed a comfortable 4-0 win in their Euro 2024 qualifier as the Estadio Algarve.

Evan Ferguson opened the scoring in the eighth minute, before Mikey Johnston doubled the visitors' advantage midway through the half.

Matt Doherty added the third from a 60th-minute corner before substitute Callum Robinson headed home to make it four and seal the facile victory against the pointless Gibraltar side.

Controlling possession from the opening minute, it took Ireland just over seven minutes to break the deadlock following a nice move down the right involving Chiedozie Ogbene and Matt Doherty.

The Luton forward spotted a gap between Jayce Olivero and Ethan Britto before sliding a perfect pass to the overlapping Doherty, who whipped his cross towards the front post.

Ferguson arrived with the coolest of finishes to hand Ireland the lead, bagging his third international goal in the process.

Kenny's side looked to push on, however, despite the continued control of the ball, Gibraltar were happy to sit in and frustrate, halting anything coming into the penalty area.

Ireland’s lack of genuine creativity was again evident, and while the home side managed a couple of set-pieces into the box, they never came close to anything resembling a chance on goal.

But then two attempts arrived inside two minutes as first Shane Duffy was unable to turn the ball home from a corner at the back post, before Johnston hit a fine effort in the 25th minute forcing a good save from Dayle Coleing.

The second goal appeared imminent, and it duly arrived in the 28th minute as Johnston slid in at the near post to help the ball home.

It was almost a carbon copy of the first as Ogbene again slipped the ball