Moylan hat-trick as Republic of Ireland beat Grenada

Internationals

Republic of Ireland 5 - 0 Grenada FT

Debutant Jack Moylan scored a hat-trick as Republic of Ireland produced a ruthless second-half display to beat Grenada 5-0 in a friendly at Estadio Enrique Roca de Murcia.

Half-time substitute Tom Cannon scored two goals in eight minutes at the start of the second half, with Moylan then netting a 22-minute hat-trick as the Irish secured a comfortable win.

With the friendly falling outside of a designated Fifa window, Heimir Hallgrimsson's team was made up of players who largely ply their trade in the Championship or League One.

Moylan, who helped Lincoln City earn promotion to the Championship, flashed a low shot wide from outside the box six minutes into the game in the Spanish sunshine.

The midfielder then forced Trishawn Thomas into action as the Grenada goalkeeper pushed his snapshot from inside the box away from goal.

Idah spurned the best chance just after the half hour mark as he scuffed an effort wide with the goal at his mercy after being teed up by Chiedozie Ogbene.

The Ipswich winger rattled the post soon after with an acrobatic effort, before Idah and Moylan drew further saves from Thomas as Republic of Ireland continued to push for an opener.

The Irish eventually broke the deadlock just 90 seconds into the second half as Will Ferry delivered a low cross into the box which Cannon met, swivelled and fired beyond Thomas for his first international goal.

His second arrived eight minutes later as Andrew Moran slipped in Idah, who flicked the ball to Cannon and he dispatched a low, first-time finish into the bottom corner.

Moylan grabbed a third just after the hour mark, latching onto a header forward from Dara O'Shea before slotting into the bottom corner for his first Irish goal.

Cannon then hit the crossbar with a free-kick as he tried for a hat-trick before Moylan curled in a fourth on 80 minutes after being slipped in by Moran.