The Republic of Ireland secured their first UEFA Nations League victory of the campaign with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Israel in Matchday 2 of Group B3 at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen. 

Three first-half goals in the space of 11 minutes from Troy Parrott, Adam Idah and Jack Moylan secured Ireland’s first three points of the campaign. The victory marked the Boys in Green’s biggest away win in three years.

Heimir Hallgrímsson made five changes from the side that started against Kosovo, with Liam Kitching, Adam Idah, Conor Coventry, Jack Moylan and Ryan Manning coming into the starting XI. Kitching was handed his senior Republic of Ireland debut, while Joel Bagan came on late in the contest to earn his first senior international cap.

Ireland dominated possession in the opening stages of the game, with their first sight of goal coming in the sixth minute. A long throw from Manning fell into the path of the onrushing Jayson Molumby, but his volley from outside the penalty area looped just over the bar.

Ireland opened the scoring in the 13th minute when a break down the right saw Molumby’s initial cross blocked by Revivo. The loose ball fell to Abankwah, who quickly squared it to Troy Parrott, and the striker fired a low effort beyond Da. Peretz.

Ireland doubled their lead just two minutes later when Adam Idah broke free of the Israeli defence after an excellent through ball from Jack Moylan. Idah raced through on goal and calmly slotted the ball past Da. Peretz to double Ireland’s advantage.

Caoimhín Kelleher was called into action in the 18th minute when Khalaili’s cross from the right evaded the Irish defence and looked destined for the bottom corner, only for Kelleher to react smartly and make the save. 

Ireland added a third in the 24th minute when Jack Moylan picked up the loose ball headed down by Shlomo on the right and used his pace to outrun two Israeli defenders before calmly slotting the ball under the advancing Da. Peretz to extend the Boys in Green’s advantage.

Ireland’s defence remained resolute during the latter stages of the first half as Israel enjoyed a series of attacking phases, but the Boys in Green stood firm, with O’Brien and O’Shea marshalling the defensive line.

Early in the second half, Kelleher was forced into an excellent save in the 50th minute when Solomon’s pass across the edge of the Irish penalty area was met by second-half substitute Dor Peretz, whose first-time effort was brilliantly pushed around the near post by the Ireland goalkeeper.

Peretz was next to test Kelleher in the 53rd minute after Solomon again broke down the right, but the midfielder’s effort from distance was brilliantly saved by the Irish goalkeeper.

Adam Idah forced Da. Peretz into a low save in the 55th minute when an initial free kick from Coventry was headed into the Irish striker’s path, but his snapshot was pushed around the post. Idah had another sight of goal a minute later when Coventry’s delivery to the back post was knocked across the face of goal by O’Shea, with Idah’s header flashing over the bar.

James Abankwah had a chance to extend Ireland’s lead in the 61st minute when some clever link-up play involving Moylan and Molumby found the advancing Irish defender, but his effort was always rising over Peretz’s crossbar.

Solomon had a chance to reduce the deficit for the home side following a lay-off from Toclomiti, but his effort on the Irish goal went well wide of the mark. This was followed by a Gloukh free kick in the 66th minute, which was excellently defended by O’Shea.

Killian Phillips went close to scoring Ireland’s fourth in the 73rd minute directly from a corner, when his delivery towards the near post had to be scrambled behind for another set piece. This was immediately followed by another long-range effort from Dor Peretz, who once again tested Caoimhín Kelleher, with the Irish goalkeeper doing excellently to keep the ball out.

Gloukh forced Kelleher into another fine save in the 85th minute when the Israeli midfielder collected the ball outside the Irish penalty area and struck a low effort from distance. Despite the shot taking a slight deflection off Coventry, the Irish goalkeeper reacted well to keep it out.

The Republic of Ireland will play their third game of the international window when they welcome Austria to the Aviva Stadium on Thursday evening.

Israel: Da. Peretz (GK), Revivo (Feingold 82), Shlomo, Solomon (C), Gloukh, Stoinov, Mizrahi (Do. Peretz 46), Peretz, Kanichowsky (Azoulay 64), Khalaili (Dasa 75), Turgeman (Toclomiti 64).

Subs not used: Glazer (GK), Tzur (GK), Nachmias, Y. Levi, Shua, Baribo, Abada.

Republic of Ireland: Kelleher (GK), Abankwah (Knight 69), O’Shea (C), O’Brien, Molumby (Bagan 87), Parrott (Vata 75), Idah (Phillips 69), Kitching, Coventry, Moylan (Cannon 69), Manning.

Subs not used: O’Leary (GK), Dunne (GK), Scales, Azaz, Egan, Elding, Ogbene.

Booked: Shlomo (ISR), Idah (IRL), Coventry (IRL)

Sent Off: None

Player of the Match: Jack Moylan

Referee: Harm Osmers (GER)