Lapses at back prove costly

In the conditions it would have been foolish to have expected a classic but even allowing for the cold, rain and lack of space available on what was a small pitch at Newbridge Town's ground, Ireland latest defeat at under-21 level was rather disappointing.

Despite looking a match for their opponents in most departments, Don Givens's side conceded two soft second-half goals and only Richie Baker's injury-time header gave those locals who had braved the elements any sort of reward for their support.

Givens admitted afterwards "it was an inexperienced side and it showed" but it was hard to figure out how those players present failed to take a firmer grip on things in the first period when, on balance, they just about looked the better side.

The hosts had the better of the chances early on with Colin Healy side-footing straight at the Greek goalkeeper from close range, Graham Barrett doing well to draw a fine save from Stefanos Kotsolis and Dave Freeman passing up his opportunity to get in on goal following an error by Efstathios Tavlaridis. Fortunately, at this stage, the visitors were no more clinical at the other end.

Healy and Barrett were about the best of the Irish side while Gerry Crossley performed solidly on his international return and Baker did most to worry the Greek defence after coming on at the break. But defensively the Irish had their problems with the Greeks playing straight through the centre in the 57th minute when Angelos Christeas opened the scoring.

For the second goal the Greeks capitalised on Michael Reddy's poor lay-off in the 78th minute to move the ball down the left and after Dean Delaney had parried an initial shot, Konstantinos Louboutis arrived unmarked to finish.

Baker drove well over when Ireland finally threatened to pull one back in the last minute of normal time and then the Shelbourne winger did much better with his second attempt after linking with Conor O'Grady and Reddy.

Republic Of Ireland: Delaney (Everton); Heary (Huddersfield Town), Delaney (UCD), McGovern (Arsenal), Murphy (Blackburn Rovers); Healy (Celtic), Crossley (Hamilton Academicals), Billington (Sheffield Wednesday); Partridge (Liverpool), Freeman (Nottingham Forest), Barrett (Arsenal). Subs: McGrath (Aston Villa) and Baker (Shelbourne) for Murphy and Freeman (both half-time), Reddy (Sunderland) for Barrett (65 mins), Martyn (UCD) and O'Grady (Sligo Rovers) for Partridge and Billington (76 mins).

Greece: Kotsolis; Tavlaridis, Berneanu, Kiriazis; Seitaridis, Gittas, Patsatzoglou, Venetis, Loboutis; Vakouftsis, Charisteas. Subs: Taralidis for Venetis (71 mins), Kouloucheris for Seitaridis (80 mins), Kazantzis for Vakouftsis (85 mins), Salpigidis for Charisteas (89 mins).

Referee: K Parry (Wales).