After a tentative opening half, the Irish Under-21s started their defence of the Celtic Cup yesterday with a victory over a side that had prepared intensively for this tournament in Tours.

Ireland found it difficult to get a full flow going in the first half but a breakthrough materialised three minutes before the interval, when Stephen Butler forced a short corner from which he scored with a drag flick.

After the break Michael Harte pierced the cover for Cliff Bailey to sink the Trinity midfielder's right-wing cross and then Justin Sherriff made it 3-0 from a typical solo thrust.

Scott McCartney reduced the gap but Dave Eakins put away Ireland's fourth goal. Although the Scottish captain David Mitchell replied from a short corner, it was the Irish skipper Butler who had the last say with a well-placed set-piece delivery.

IRELAND: C Henderson; A Chambers, C Burns, R Beere; S Butler (capt); S Symmington, M Harte, M Black; D Eakins, J Sherriff, C Bailey. Sub: S Reid.