Back Row: Stokes, Kiernan, Gunning, Henderson Sheridan, Garvan, Gleeson
Front: Mc Carthy, Nolan (C),Clifford, Coleman.
Pictures from the match
Statto: Noel Kings first game as Head Coach UEFA Under-21 Championship QualifierRepublic of Ireland 5 Estonia 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 Kings 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. Dmitrjievs 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 Palaces 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.From the Irish Independent Stokes brace helps King to dream start Ireland U-21 5 Estonia U-21 0 UEFA u-21 Championship qualifier By Daniel McDonnell Wednesday August 11 2010 THE perfect start for Noel King, and a pretty good night for his players, with the absence of Giovanni Trapattoni through illness the only down side. Trap has never seen the U-21s win a competitive game. Indeed, the last time they managed that feat was back in November of 2007 when Steve Staunton was only a month out of the senior job and Trap was just a twinkle in the FAIs eye. The 71-year-old would have been given food for thought by the stars of this display. In fairness, this was a nice fixture for King to start with in his new role. He had performers with Premier League experience at his disposal, compared to the Estonians who are largely based in their own country. However, the demeanour of the success makes the FAIs decision to persist with Don Givens for so long all the more baffling. After toiling against limited opposition previously, with double humiliation against Armenia the nadir, they strolled to the three points here. After enduring some miserable nights in the green jersey, they enjoyed this experience. Positive vibes at last, and hopefully a sign of things to come. The FAI underestimated the level of interest in this new dawn for the second most important national team, initially restricting the attendance to just one side of the Tallaght Stadium. With crowds swelling outside even as the game under way, it was just as well they had enough security to open the other 3,000- seater stand in Dublin 24. With half an hour gone, the overflow raced around to that side. By that point, Ireland were already two goals to the good, with the result beyond doubt. King did not unveil any radical tactical alterations. In fact, he went for the same formation favoured by his predecessor, a fluid 4-5-1. The difference was that better players were available to him; Givens either exiled them, or did not have the option because they had minor injuries or were on senior duty. More pertinently, perhaps, they played without fear, and the swagger of Anthony Stokes inspired their first-half spurt into a position of complete control. Stokes, whose relationship with Givens was awful, obviously revelled in the new environment, despite operating on the left wing as opposed to his favoured attacking role. He opened the scoring in style, collecting a James McCarthy centre, cutting inside onto his right foot and launching a powerful drive that gave Marko Meerits little chance. McCarthy, who would have preferred to be with the seniors, was the most advanced of the central midfield trio, with Owen Garvan and Stephen Gleeson lying deeper. Conor Clifford, who has plenty of time on his side at this level, was deployed on the right side. The captain of Chelseas FA Youth Cup-winning team is naturally a central player, but he had to bow to experience. Goalkeeper Stephen Henderson had been tested twice before the Stokes opener. Yet, once Ireland claimed the lead, they were relatively comfortable without being wonderful in possession. They simply had more quality in the danger zone, and Stokes tormented full-back Marek Kaljumae in a passage that culminated with a hack down and a penalty kick, with Dutch referee Paulus van Boekel left with little options. Up stepped Stokes who waited for the keeper to commit and then attempted the audacious cheeky chip penalty, which dropped in off the underside of the crossbar. You wondered what old-school Givens would have made of it.luck Defensively, the Irish did make some mistakes and they rode their luck again after the restart when sub Andero Pebre struck the bar. Nevertheless, they regrouped and added a third when Stokes trickery teed up McCarthy, who bided his time before slotting into the bottom corner. Cillian Sheridan, who could figure at the Aviva Stadium tonight, was withdrawn with that in mind and McCarthy was another to be given a rest with Saturdays Premier League kick-off on the horizon. It did not halt Irelands momentum, with Seamus Coleman -- who hopes to be involved for Everton this weekend -- fortuitously providing the fourth goal, when he inadvertently deflected a Garvan strike past the hapless Meerits. Garvan managed to get on the score sheet at the death, though, when Stokes, enjoying the freedom of the pitch, drifted to the right and paved the way for the Crystal Palace new boy to apply a precise finish.IRELAND -- Henderson, Coleman (Oyebanjo 86), Kiernan, Nolan, Gunning; Clifford, Gleeson, McCarthy (Hourihane 83), Garvan, Stokes; Sheridan (Judge 77).ESTONIA -- Meerits, Kaljumae (Jevdokimov 62), Jahhimovits, Artjunin, Teniste; Frolov (Pebre 38), Tenno, Puri, Kallaste; Dmitrijev; Alliku (Anier 66). REF-- P Van Boekel (Netherlands).