The Celtic winger scored seven minutes after coming on as a halftime replacement.
The Republic of Ireland's Euro 2024 qualifying campaign was finally kicked off by substitute Mikey Johnston, saving manager Stephen Kenny from additional punishment at the hands of Gibraltar.
After being introduced at halftime to a less than enthusiastic reception after being held at bay by the team ranked 201st in the world, the Celtic winger, who spent last season on loan with Portuguese team Vitoria Guimaraes, scored his first senior international goal seven minutes later.
Seven minutes later, Evan Ferguson assisted himself to his second goal for Ireland, and substitute Adam Idah scored his first goal in stoppage time to secure a 3-0 victory on a night when anything less than a comfortable victory would have increased pressure on Kenny, who already found himself under fire following Friday night's 2-1 Group B loss in Greece.
Given the level of the opponents, a fifth victory in 24 competitive games is unlikely to quell his detractors, and qualifying remains plainly improbable unless they defeat either France or the Netherlands in September, or perhaps both.
To provide some slight solace, Johnston's second-half cameo finally gave his team the pace and ferocity they had been missing before the break.
Darragh Lenihan, Callum O'Dowda, Jayson Molumby, and Idah were replaced by James McClean, earning his 100th cap, Dara O'Shea, Jamie McGrath, Jason Knight, and Michael Obafemi in place of the former Atletico Madrid full-back. The other four changes were forced by Matt Doherty's red card in Athens.
Within seconds of the game's opening kickoff, his team might have taken the lead when Knight, who was starting at right wing-back, crossed for McGrath to shoot first time. Goalkeeper Dayle Coleing needed two tries to gather the ball, and three minutes later, defender Kian Ronan anxiously sliced another teaser from Knight over his own crossbar.
The visitors sat deep as expected, making it easier for Ireland to break them down. Defenders Nathan Collins and O'Shea frequently found themselves with time and space but lacked the skill to pass the ball through the thick groups of white shirts.
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