Keane leads the way as Ireland thump Gibraltar

• Robbie Keane becomes the highest-scoring player in EURO qualifying with a 13-minute treble
• James McClean nets twice, Gibraltar keeper Jordan Perez an own goal
• Wesley Hoolahan, the creator of two goals, rounds off the scoring
• Ireland are flush with confidence after winning their first two Group D matches
• Next games: Germany v Republic of Ireland, Gibraltar v Georgia (Tuesday)

Inspired by a hat-trick from captain Robbie Keane, the Republic of Ireland made it two wins out of two in UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying Group D with an emphatic defeat of Gibraltar.

Martin O'Neill's team were full of confidence following their 2-1 victory in Georgia last month and on home turf in Dublin they were led by Keane, who in completing an early 13-minute treble became the highest-scoring player in EURO qualifying history. Gibraltar's chastening start to competitive international football continues, meanwhile – this was their second successive 7-0 reverse.

Ireland began in lively fashion with Wes Hoolahan heading an effort narrowly wide. Keane showed him how to do it on six minutes, though, when he converted a low cross from Aiden McGeady. In spite of some fine saves from Jordan Perez, there was little the visitors could do to stop Keane from grabbing his second goal after a through pass from Hoolahan.

With a 2-0 cushion, Ireland looked sharp and hungry for more goals. Their third arrived on 18 minutes when Hoolahan was fouled inside the penalty area by Perez and Keane converted the resulting spot kick. Even after regrouping at the break, Gibraltar could not contain Ireland in the second period and it was 4-0 inside 60 seconds. Keane was the creator this time, providing a square pass for James McClean to fire in.

Perez then had a fifth goal go past him despite intially saving a shot from Keane as the ball rebounded off the keeper's foot and into the net. It was a cruel blow for the 27-year-old, but he would concede twice more before being substituted.

McClean claimed his second on 53 minutes after following up a save from Perez, before Hoolahan got the goal his display deserved after some delightful trickery in the box and a confident finish.