Ireland Under-21s ended their friendly double-header against Sweden with a 3-2 victory in Marbella.

Goals from Jamie Mullins, Rocco Vata and Mark O’Mahony earned the win for Ireland against an impressive and more experience Swedish side.

On another day Ireland could have scored more but they produced an excellent performance that sees them end 2024 on a high.

Jim Crawford’s side were on it from early on. In the 11^th minute O’Brien delivered a brilliant cross-field pass which Vata collected in his stride. Needing no invitation to shoot his powerful attempt forced a fine save from Sidklev.

Two minutes later Jad Hakiki did well to work space for a cross which could the goalkeeper out and the cross somehow spun away from the goal when it looked destined for the net.

The breakthrough came after 15 minutes. Mullins and O’Mahony exchanged some sharp passed and with Mullins through on goal he cutely chipped the keeper for an excellent finish.

Omorowa had a great chance for Sweden when he was allowed to drift inside the defence but his attempt lacked any composure and went high and wide.

Sweden would equalise after 34 minutes when Peter Amoran rose highest from a free-kick to head home.

Just after half-time Vata restored Ireland’s lead. Mullins played an intricate pass that was collected by the Vata and he showed the composure to find the far corner.

In the 50^th minute it was 3-1. Vata played in Jacob slater whose cross across the face of goal was met by Mark O’Mahony for his first Under-21s goal.

Ireland had the ball in the net in the for 4-1 but Glory Nzingo was adjudged to be offside when he tapped home from close range.

Sweden found a way back in the 58^th minute when Lukas Bjorklund turned home from a deft flick that crept in at the far post.

Substitute Tommy Lonergan had a great opportunity to make it 4-2 when Lipsuic’s header found him free but his attempt just flashed by the post.

Lonergan looked lively and a quick exchange of passes between he and Adrien Thibaut put the Fleetwood Town striker in on goal however his attempt was well saved by the foot of Bishesari.

That would be the last real attempt as the Under-21s recorded the win in their final action of the year.

Speaking after the game Head Coach Jim Crawford said: "I thought it was an excellent performance today. I thought all the players who got on the pitch today did themselves and their country proud.

"It's been a great week, it's a Sweden team in Pot 2, where 90 per cent of their team are playing first-team football. So that was the challenge, we had lads who are involved in developmental football and others who need to be on the pitch more. But for me this game gave me a barometer of where our players are at. In the frist game we get beat 2-0 where there were a few positives, but all credit to the staff who put in the work on the grass to get the players ready and the players involved today implemented everything we went through in the last couple of days. It was a really pleasing performance."

Ireland: Maguire (Walsh, 61) , O’Brien (Abankwah, 78), Okagbue, Murphy, Slater, O’Brien-Whitmarsh (Lipsuic, 61), Mullins (Thibaut, 71), Nzingo (Quinn, 61’), Hakiki (Zefi, 71), Vata (Moore, 61), O’Mahony (Lonergan, 61)

Sweden: Sidklev, Skoglund, Amoran, Rouhi, Perez Vinlof (C), Odefalk, Dahbo, Karlsson, Omorowa, Bjorklund, Boudri. Substitutions: Bishesari (GK), Makolli, Skogmar, Hodzic, Rafferty, Agbonifo, Andersson, Rapp, Viktor Andersson (GK)