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They were rewarded after a vigorous opening half-hour with a goal in the 40th minute. A corner was swung in by John Connellan and John Quigley powered home a header.
Ireland continued to play with style and effectiveness after the break. They jumped two in front when Mark Salmon drilled a low shot into the net from inside the penalty after a good bout of inter-passing between Jim Ryan and Andrew Jackson.
A third goal helped to highlight the play of Adam Rooney, who emerged as one of Ireland's success stories over the two games. A long diagonal ball from Matthew Cassidy found Rooney on the left of goal.
He pulled the ball down with his right foot and, in an instant, hammered home a left-foot shot from 30 yards.
Quigley, at left-back, emerged as Ireland's top player on an evening when the team worked smoothly and progressively, even after several substitutions.
Others to impress were Jim Ryan, Luke Hickie, Mark Salmon and Rooney.
Ireland's manager Sean McCaffrey expressed himself delighted with the brief visit to Malta - "We played very well tonight" he said, "it was a very valuable exercise and gave lads who are on the periphery some very good experience. I could not have asked for more."
Republic of Ireland (4-4-2): Eugene Ferry (Derry City); Kevin McArdle (Shelbourne), Patrick Mullins (Geraldines, Limerick), Darren Dennehy (Everton), John Quigley (Stoke City); Mark Salmon (Wolves), Jim Ryan (Liverpool), Luke Hickie (Barnet), John Connellan (Athlone Town); Andrew Jackson (St. Johnstone), Chris Mulhall (Shelbourne). Subs: Robert Bayly (Leeds Utd) for Connellan 45; Matthew Cassidy (bolton) for McArdle 52; William John Kiely (Aberdeen) for Mulhall 61; Adam Rooney (Stoke City) for Jackson 61; Michael Liddle (Sunderland) for Ryan 71; Mark Byrne (Crumlin United) for Salmon 74.