Euro 2024 qualifier: Republic ease to win over Gibraltar - reaction

Summary

Evan Ferguson scores in the eighth minute
Mikey Johnston nets on 28 minutes
Matt Doherty on target after 61 minutes
Callum Robinson adds fourth in 80th minute
Republic of Ireland beat Gibraltar 3-0 in Dublin in June

Live Reporting

Mark Sterling

'Magnificent from McGrath'published at 21:06 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
Gibraltar 0-3 Republic of Ireland
Ray Houghton
Former Republic of Ireland midfielder on RTE
That flick was quite magnificent from Jamie McGrath. Absolutely outstanding and a good finish from Matt Doherty too.
GOAL - Gibraltar 0-3 Republic of Irelandpublished at 21:04 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
Matt Doherty 60 mins
Matt Doherty adds the third for Ireland from a Mikey Johnston corner on the hour-mark.
His corner was flicked on superbly and acrobatically by Jamie McGrath and Doherty muscled his way in at the back-post to head home from close range.
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 21:03 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
Gibraltar 0-2 Republic of Ireland
Evan Ferguson sets up Mikey Johnston, whose shot is deflected wide.
Postpublished at 21:01 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
Gibraltar 0-2 Republic of Ireland
They haven't had many but Gibraltar have just had a shot from distance.
Tjay De Barr's effort drifted harmlessly wide, mind you.
Postpublished at 21:00 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
Gibraltar 0-2 Republic of Ireland
We can confirm the pitch-side microphones are in working order.
Republic boss Stephen Kenny is clearly getting fed up with the Gibraltar bench appealing for decisions, and we heard him let his feelings be known.
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 20:57 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
Gibraltar 0-2 Republic of Ireland
Silly antics from Josh Cullen and Louie Annesley who take it in turns to push each other and fall over.
No need.
Postpublished at 20:55 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
Gibraltar 0-2 Republic of Ireland
Wasteful from Evan Ferguson.
A free-kick from 20 yards out but the Brighton teenager curls his shot well over the crossbar.
Image source, Inpho
Big misspublished at 20:54 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
Gibraltar 0-2 Republic of Ireland
That was a huge miss from Jason Knight.
He made a great run and Mikey Johnston found him with a cross but Knight planted his back-post header wide.
That should be 3-0 to Ireland.
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 20:52 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
Gibraltar 0-2 Republic of Ireland
Gibraltar force a corner but Liam Walker's cross is easily cleared.
Postpublished at 20:51 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
Gibraltar 0-2 Republic of Ireland
And from the corner, Shane Duffy connects beautifully with a volley but his effort goes just wide of the post.
Ireland on the front foot at the start of this second half.
Postpublished at 20:50 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
Gibraltar 0-2 Republic of Ireland
Another cross from the right and a bad punch from Coleing lads at the feet of Knight, whose shot is saved and turned away for a corner.
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 20:49 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
Gibraltar 0-2 Republic of Ireland
Ireland go straight on the attack down the right again and a cross comes in for Mikey Johnston but his header is easily saved.
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 20:48 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
Gibraltar 0-2 Republic of Ireland
Second half is underway.
Can Ireland add to the two goals they scored in the first half?
'One-way traffic in the first half''published at 20:42 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
HT: Gibraltar 0-2 Republic of Ireland
Shay Given
Former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper on RTE Sport
Can we play Gibraltar every month?
It's been all Ireland so far. One-way traffic in the first half, it's been so simple. It could be a night where Evan Ferguson can get a bag full of goals if he gets lots of balls into the box in the second half.
All smiles for Ireland so farpublished at 20:38 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
HT: Gibraltar 0-2 Republic of Ireland
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
'Ogbene good in spells'published at 20:36 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
HT: Gibraltar 0-2 Republic of Ireland
Ray Houghton
Former Republic of Ireland midfielder on RTE
With Chiedozie Ogbene there are times when he is very good for a spell and has some great moments and then he seems to fizzle out a little bit. I think we saw that on Friday night, he was by far Ireland's best player in that first half in my opinion, getting forward he looked threatening but in the second half he didn't see a lot of the ball. This is where I'm sure the manager will be saying 'do it for the 90 minutes, keep it going'.
HALF-TIMEpublished at 20:35 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
Gibraltar 0-2 Republic of Ireland
That was a bit of a stroll in the park for the Republic as they lead 2-0 at the end of a first half that they totally dominated.
Evan Ferguson gave them an early lead from a Matt Doherty cross and it was Doherty again who supplied the pass for Mikey Johnston to stab home the second on the rebound.
They've been patient in possession but manager Stephen Kenny will no doubt want more goals in the second half.
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 20:32 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
Gibraltar 0-2 Republic of Ireland
Gibraltar have had a shot.
Repeat.
Gibraltar have had a shot.
It was well wide from Liam Walker but it was a shot all the same.
Postpublished at 20:31 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
Gibraltar 0-2 Republic of Ireland
Why did Mikey Johnston not head that?
It was a fantastic cross from McGrath but Johnston seemed to lose the flight of the ball and didn't get any real connection on it.
Postpublished at 20:30 British Summer Time 16 October 2023
Gibraltar 0-2 Republic of Ireland
Heavy challenge there between Knight and De Barr.
Free kick goes the way of the Republic.
Almost half time. Gibraltar will be ready for a breather.