Kenny: First goal crucial in easing tension

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny said it was important that his team kept their composure against a stubborn Gibraltar side as they eventually recorded a 3-0 win at the Aviva Stadium.

Ireland put their first points on the board of their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign after defeats to France and Greece, but toiled for long periods against the international minnows.

Deadlocked at the break, goals from Mikey Johnstone, eight minutes after his half-time introduction, Evan Ferguson and Adam Idah ensured Ireland go into September's daunting double-header against World Cup finalists France and Netherlands with three points.

"I think it was important to keep our composure and believe in ourselves," Kenny told RTÉ Sport.

"We had a lot of shots in the game, 32, but it was all about getting the first goal. We had a great chance in the first minute of the game that we didn’t take

"Once you get the first goal, it eases the tension and people can relax. Thankfully we got two others."

The victory was just Kenny’s 10th in 34 games in the Irish hotseat, and he accepted that there was a different kind of pressure after a poor outing last week in a 2-1 defeat to Greece.

"We are still disappointed about Friday and it was important to respond in the right way. Of course we are expected to beat Gibraltar, they are the lowest seeds in the group.

"We could have won by a lot more, we should have won by a lot mor, but we didn’t take some of the chances.

"It was good that Adam Idah scored his first goal, Mikey Johnston scored his first goal and Evan Ferguson scored his first competitive goal. They were pluses."

With five changes in personnel and an alteration in formation, Kenny was asked if the mounting speculation around his future influenced his