Ireland 2 Estonia 0

Nothing but a victory would do for Ireland last night against Estonia at Lansdowne Road after earning two great draws on the road to kick off World Cup qualifying - and Mick McCarthy's team obliged in some style.

McCarthy has the Irish team playing like world-beaters and he deserves a lot of credit for this. Right from the outset against Estonia the Irish knew the job in hand and got on with it.

Ireland are expressing themselves on the football like never before. No more humping the ball up the field and hoping for a break: instead the team show patience in their build-up and if one avenue is blocked they just switch play and try another.

The 2-0 victory for the Irish was the least they deserved as they completely outclassed a capable-looking Estonia side.

Ireland took control of the midfield battle and from then on it wasn't a matter of if we would win, but how many we would win by.

Roy Keane and Mark Kinsella are quickly becoming one of the best midfield partnerships in the world. They never lose sight of each other and are always backing each other up whenever trouble looms.

Ireland can look forward with confidence to the final seven games in Group 2 but the way they are playing at the moment will have them regretting the long break to the next competitive game.

If the qualifying could all take place over the next month or so it would suit the Irish down to the ground, because on present form they look unbeatable.

That is an unusual thing to say about an Irish team but it is a fact. The squad are all at the top of their game at the moment and long may it continue.

Ireland cruised against Estonia but yet they had to be always on their guard as the Balts did pose a threat in attack. Oper and Zelinski know about the game of football and against weaker opposition they would thrive - as, indeed, they have in the past.

Ireland took the lead in the 25th minute through midfield dynamo Mark Kinsella. The ball was played long to Niall Quinn and the Sunderland striker did well to control before laying off to the Charlton midfielder.

Kinsella was still left with a lot of work to do but he untangled the ball from between his feet and hit a ground shot from 15 yards out which easily beat Estonia'a goalkeeper, Mart Poom.

Midfield maestro Roy Keane was popping up everywhere in his bid to get on the scoresheet but it just wasn't his night even when he got the ball on target Poom came to Estonia's rescue.

Mick McCarthy decided to change his wing option at half time by replacing Jason McAteer, who did little wrong, with Damien Duff. Duff injected more directness into the Irish game as did Kevin Kilbane on the other side who was a sight to behold in full flight.

Kilbane is a strange animal. He tries the same tactic every time he gets the ball but no defender seems to be able to stop him. He runs directly at them and just as the challenge is coming he knocks the ball forward and uses his pace to retrieve it. The Sunderland winger could have scored his first international goal and probably deserved it on his performance.

Ireland killed off the game as a competition in the 50th minute. They won a corner and even though the ball was scuffed over by Ian Harte, Niall Quinn got a flick at the near post and central defender Richard Dunne arrived around the back to unleash a piledriver which went in off Poom's body.

The Derby County goalkeeper knew nothing about the shot and was lucky it did not hit him higher because he would definitely have needed medical attention.

With the two-goal lead the Irish could relax and pass the ball as they pleased and they did so. At times they looked majestic as they picked their way through the Estonians. Long may this style of football continue.

Ireland: Alan Kelly (Blackburn Rovers), Stephen Carr (Tottenham), Richard Dunne (Everton), Gary Breen (Coventry City), Ian Harte (Leeds United), Jason McAteer (Blackburn Rovers), Roy Keane - capt. (Manchester United), Mark Kinsella (Charlton), Kevin Kilbane (Sunderland), Niall Quinn (Sunderland), Robbie Keane (Inter Milan).
Subs: Damien Duff (Blackburn Rovers) for McAteer 46; Dominic Foley (Watford) for Robbie Keane 87, Steve Finnan (Fulham) for Kilbane 87
Unused Subs: Matt Holland (Ipswich Town), Steve Staunton (Liverpool), Dean Kiely (Charlton), Rory Delap (Derby County).
Goals: Kinsella 25, Dunne 50.

Estonia: Poom, Allas, Stepanov, Lemsalu, Saviauk, Vilkmae, Anniste, Reim, Termmov, Oper, Zelinski
Subs: Haavistu for Viikmae 68, Ustriski for Zelinski 68.
Unused Subs: Tohver, Jurisson, Kristal.

Referee: T Hauge (Norway).
Att: 34,962.