A seventh minute long-range effort from Tyler Toland and a second-half penalty from captain Katie McCabe was enough to give the Irish side victory in front of 3,423 at Tallaght Stadium.
 
Ireland made the perfect start when Toland scored her first senior international goal for the Girls in Green. Picking the ball up 30 yards from goal she strolled forward before unleashing an effort that beat Ivan Cabarkapa in the Montenegro goal.
 
The hosts had the better of the play with Ireland looking particularly threatening from set pieces with Louise Quinn a real danger in the air.
 
On 44 minutes Katie McCabe had an opportunity to test Cabarkapa from a direct free-kick but unfortunately her effort didn’t trouble Montenego goal as they sought that elusive second goal.
 
Ireland had one final chance before the break when confusion in the Montenegro box from a corner saw the ball fall to Quinn who couldn’t convert her effort and the ball was bundled away from danger.
 
At half-time Tom O’Connor introduced Heather Payne for Claire O’Riordan as Ireland looked to stretch a stubborn Montenegro defence.
 
Toland had a chance to take her international tally to two on 46 minutes, O’Sullivan found space in the 18-yard-box and pulled it back to the midfielder who saw her effort sail over the bar from 12 yards out.
 
The home side continued to push for that second goal with Denise O’Sullivan and McCabe dictating the play with their creativity and Payne a constant menace to the Montenegro back line.
 
Ireland finally doubled the lead on 69 minutes. Darija Djukic handled in the area and the referee didn’t hesitate in pointing to the spot. McCabe grabbed the ball and the captain made no mistake firing it to the keepers’ right to give Ireland a two-goal cushion.
 
On 74 minutes she almost got her second of the game. Displaying tidy feet on the edge of the area McCabe followed it with a great effort that could only be parried by Cabarkapa.who also saved the follow-up from Rianna Jarrett. 
 
McCabe came close again on 84 when Jarrett broke free on the right  and squared it for the Arsenal forward who narrowly missed from 10 yards out.

But despite their dominant attacking play Ireland couldn’t find a third their play deserved.
 
 Republic of Ireland: Marie Hourihan (GK), Claire O’Riordan (Heather Payne 45), Louise Quinn, Diane Caldwell (Claire Walsh 75), Harriet Scott, Niamh Fahey (Megan Connolly 80), Tyler Toland, Katie McCabe (C), Denise O’Sullivan, Jessica Gargan, Rianna Jarrett.
 
Substitutes: Grace Moloeny (GK), Amber Barrett, Stephanie Roche, Eleanor Ryan-Doyle, Chloe Singleton, Eabha O’Mahony
 
Montenegro: Ivana Cabarkapa (GK), Aleksandra Popovic, Maja Saranovic, Tatjana Djurkovic,, Darija Djukic, Jadranka Pavicevic, Dzenita Ramcilovic, Sladjana Bulatovic, Jasna Djokovic, (Jelena Karlicic 63),  Nadja Stonovic (Jelena Vujadinovic 90), Armisa Kuc (Tamara Bojat 82).
 
Substitutes: Ines Obradovic (GK), Milica Knezevic (GK), Sanja Nedic, Marija Vukcevic, , Helena Bozic, Marija Maras.
 
Referee:Catarina Isabel Ferreira Campos (POR)