Bobby Wales and Celtic kid Jude Bonnar scored their first goals for a new-look Scotland Under 21s in a fine win in Spain.
Manager Scot Gemmill blooded 11 new faces either as starters or from the bench as they prepare for the Euro qualifiers later this year.
And Killie kid Wales bagged an early goal before Bonnar sealed a deserved win in Murcia late on.
Manchester City starlet Emilio Lawrence was denied on three separate occasions and Scotland could really have clinched an even more convincing win, although they had to rely on sub Dundee United keeper Ruaridh Adams saving a late Irish penalty.
Gemmill said: "It was good to see the new players and give them the opportunity and give them the experience. I think it was important for them to experience this level. There's no question Ireland are a good team.
"I thought David Watson was very influential for us too.
"You don't quite know with new players and there are a lot of goof players who aren't with us right now too. But it's definitely optimistic for the future."
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It took the Scots just five minutes to get off to the perfect start.
Lawrence did some excellent work down the left beat a defender and squared the ball across for Wales to bundle the ball home under pressure from Irish defenders for his first goal at this level.
It was nearly two a couple of minutes later when Wales got to the ball ahead of Ireland's Spurs keeper Aaron Maguire, but had to go wide and his cross was just too high for Daniel Kelly who headed wide.
Kelly had a couple of efforts saved by the Irish keeper and Scotland really should have held a bigger lead.
Lawrence embarked on another eye-catching run where he galloped past defenders before again seeing his low effort saved by the Irish keeper. That was his last involvement before hobbling off injured though to be replaced by Rangers' Bailey Rice for another debut.
And Bonnar drilled home a rebound in the 77th minute with a cool finish after Sheffield United forward Ryan One had an effort blocked to seal a thoroughly deserved win for the Scots.
Captain Jeremiah Mullen conceded a late penalty and Adams saved Joe Gardner's spot kick to top off a fine night for the young Scots.
