UEFA Under-21 Championship Qualifier
Republic of Ireland       5-0      Estonia
Anthony Stokes 15, 30 (pen)
James McCarthy 62
Seamus Coleman 86
Owen Garvan 90

Anthony Stokes bagged a first half brace to set the Republic of Ireland Under-21s on their way to a comprehensive win over Estonia at Tallaght Stadium in the UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifier on Tuesday night.

The Hibernian striker fired the Irish ahead on 15 minutes before adding the second from the penalty spot after he was fouled inside the area. James McCarthy profited from Stokes' surging run to grab his first goal at this level on 62 minutes before Seamus Coleman and Owen Garvan struck in the last five minutes.

In Noel King's first match in charge of the Irish side, Estonia displayed in the opening five minutes the type of form which has seen them fare well in the group.

Dmitrjiev's 30 yard shot on four minutes required Ireland goalkeeper Stephen Henderson to dive full stretch and turn the effort around his post for a corner.

Less than sixty seconds later, the same Estonian player tried his luck with a lower drilled shot which Henderson easily gathered.

Stokes slammed home the opener though with a quarter of an hour gone. James McCarthy spotted the striker in space on the edge of the area and he cut in past Kaljumae and rippled the back of the net with a shot.

He had his second on the half hour mark after Kaljumae bundled him over in the box. Up stepped Stokes to nonchalantly chip the ball past ‘keeper Marko Merits who had dived the wrong way.

An inspirational run by Stokes created the third for McCarthy on 62 minutes. Neat footwork by the Dubliner down the left drew two defenders out of position and his cut-back was angled to the net first time by the Wigan Athletic midfielder.

Buoyed with their comfortable lead, Ireland pressed on for more goals. Four minutes from time, substitute Conor Hourihane teed up Owen Garvan to shoot from the edge of the area and his effort was diverted off the foot of Seamus Coleman and high into the net.

Crystal Palace's new signing Garvan completed the scoring in stoppage time by curling a low shot around the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.

Republic of Ireland: Stephen Henderson (Bristol City); Seamus Coleman (Everton), Robert Kiernan (Yeovil Town), Eddie Nolan (Scunthorpe United), Gavin Gunning (Blackburn Rovers); Conor Clifford (Chelsea), James McCarthy (Wigan Athletic), Stephen Gleeson (MK Dons), Owen Garvan (Crystal Palace); Cillian Sheridan (Celtic), Anthony Stokes (Hibs)

Subs: Alan Judge (Blackburn Rovers) for Sheridan (77 mins), Conor Hourihane (Ipswich Town) for McCarthy (81 mins), Lanre Oregano (Histon) for Coleman (88 mins)
Not used: Shane Redmond (Chesterfield), Aaron Doran (Blackburn Rovers), Brendan Moloney (Notts Forest), Joe Mason (Plymouth Argyle)

Estonia: Marko Merits, Marek Kaljumae, Taijo Teniste, Aleksei Jahhimovitis, Artjom Artjunin, Siimi Tenno, Andre Frolon, Ken Kallaste, Rauno Alliku, Eino Puri, Artjom Dmitrijev Subs: Alan Ventsel, Andrei Veis, Rauno Tutk, Martin Tsegodajen, Anders Pebre, Juri Jendokimon, Henri Anier

Referee: Paulus Von Boekel (Netherlands)

Attendance: 3010.