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Ryan Giggs had a homecoming to remember as Wales began their Nations League campaign in style with a 4-1 demolition of the Republic of Ireland in Cardiff.<\/p>\nRyan Giggs had a homecoming to remember as Wales began their Nations League campaign in style with a 4-1 demolition of the Republic of Ireland in Cardiff.<\/p>\n
Tom Lawrence, Gareth Bale \u2013 with his 30th goal for Wales \u2013 Aaron Ramsey and Connor Roberts were on target before Ireland substitute Shaun Williams provided some cheer for the visitors.<\/p>\n
The victory might not have erased the pain of Wales\u2019 World Cup elimination last October when Ireland won 1-0 at the same Cardiff City Stadium venue.<\/p>\n
But the manner of the performance, with talented youngsters Ethan Ampadu and David Brooks excelling on their first competitive starts and Bale at his brilliant best, gave a tantalizing glimpse of the bright future that could lie ahead under manager Giggs.<\/p>\n
Martin O\u2019Neill, in the other technical area, was taking charge of his 50th Ireland game and knows he has his work cut out to enjoy success in UEFA\u2019s new competition.<\/p>\n
Harry Arter and Declan Rice had declared themselves unavailable, and James McClean, who had scored the Ireland\u2019s winner in Cardiff 11 months ago, headed a lengthy injury list that had reduced O\u2019Neill\u2019s options.<\/p>\n
The selection of Chelsea midfielder Ampadu and Bournemouth forward Brooks in Giggs\u2019 first competitive match as Wales manager \u2013 and first game on Welsh soil \u2013 had ended any lingering doubts over the international futures of the England-born pair.<\/p>\n
Swansea full-back Roberts also made his first competitive appearance as Chris Gunter\u2019s run of 63 consecutive caps came to an end.<\/p>\n
Wales were determined to make amends for their World Cup heartbreak and the confident Ampadu was instantly at the heart of everything.<\/p>\n
It was the teenager\u2019s fine crossfield ball that sparked the move leading to Lawrence\u2019s sixth-minute opener.<\/p>\n
Roberts and Brooks were both involved before Joe Allen fed Lawrence and the Derby forward drilled his shot inside Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph at his near post.<\/p>\n
Callum O\u2019Dowda saw his deflected shot held under the crossbar by Wayne Hennessey but Wales doubled their advantage in style after 17 minutes.<\/p>\n
Ben Davies picked off O\u2019Dowda\u2019s pass and his raking ball sent Bale scampering free down the right.<\/p>\n
Ireland were unable to stop Bale cutting inside on to his favorite left foot from 20 yards and there was no doubt that the ball would fly past Randolph for his landmark goal.<\/p>\n
The visitors asked the odd question from set-pieces, but they had no answer to Wales\u2019 pace and were being ripped apart by opponents playing with verve and energy.<\/p>\n
Randolph pushed out efforts from Lawrence and Bale before Ampadu, pulling the strings throughout in midfield, delivered a perfectly weighted ball for Ramsey to again expose Randolph at his near post.<\/p>\n
Shane Duffy sent a header straight at Hennessey soon after the restart, but Wales made it 4-0 when Bale\u2019s square ball was expertly finished by Roberts for the 22-year-old\u2019s first goal in senior football.<\/p>\n
Bale almost added another moments later with an audacious chip before Williams pounced on Ramsey\u2019s 66th-minute slip to give Ireland some cheer and reduce the arrears.<\/p>\n
Substitute Tyler Roberts was denied a debut goal by Randolph\u2019s fingertips as Giggs gave Bale a breather ahead of their trip to Denmark on Sunday.<\/p>\n
But Wales\u2019 first competitive win over Ireland in five attempts was never in doubt.<\/p>\n