Republic of Ireland Under-21s have eased to a 3-0 victory over Lithuania Under-21s in their 2017 European Championships qualifying clash.
The hosts were the first to threaten when Conor Wilkinson picked up the ball on the edge of the box, but he fired his effort just over the bar.
Noel King's men upped the ante and came within inches of the lead when Wilkinson fired the ball across the face of goal, but Sean Kavanagh failed to guide his strike on the slide into the net.
Ireland took the lead in the 27th minute as Josh Cullen lifted a cross to the back post for the run of Callum O'Dowda and he steered his effort past Edvinas Gertmonas from close range.
Wilkinson doubled his team's advantage minutes later when he twisted and turned his marker on the edge of the box, and his low effort crept through the legs of Gertmonas to find the net.
In the second half, Lithuania almost got back into the game when Simonas Stankevicius lined up a free kick on the edge of the box, but he curled his strike wide of the target.
Alan Browne sealed the win for Ireland after he latched on to Kavanagh's cross into the box and finished with a neat volley into the top corner.
The victory maintained Ireland's 100% record in their qualifying campaign in Group Two after three matches.
Simon Sinclair
Spain U21s
