The Republic of Ireland completed a disappointing double in Riga yesterday and now won't be represented at either of next summer's UEFA Youths finals.
Following the under-18s failure to advance from their qualifying group a fortnight ago, the under-16s 2-0 defeat to Spain means it's the first time since manager Brian Kerr took charge almost four-years-ago that both his youth sides have failed to reach a UEFA finals in the same year.
Having beaten hosts Latvia 1-0 on Sunday, Spain only needed a draw to ensure they went through. Ireland took the game to Spain in the first-half and came close to scoring through Stephen Bradley and Robbie Shields.
Spain hit Ireland on the counter-attack to take the lead six minutes after the break with Mayol breaking away to cross for Inesta to score.
The second killer goal arrived on 67 minutes when Diego Leon shot past Morgan Cranley after good work by Gavillan.
"It was very disappointing," said Kerr. "We didn't play too badly but the goal early in the second-half put us under enormous pressure.
"We really didn't do enough in midfield to win the match. Defensively we were sound with Kieran Sharkey and Pierre Ennis playing very well while Robbie Shields again was our best player."
Ireland: Cranley (Belvedere); Sharkey (Belvedere), McGrath (Liverpool), Ennis (Aston Villa), Keyes (Belvedere); Whelan (Manchester City), Bradley (Arsenal), Maguire (Belvedere); Keegan (Leeds United), Rice (Coventry City), Shields (Leeds United). Subs: Fitzgerald (Blackburn Rovers) for McGrath and Salmon (Lourdes Cletic) for Bradley (both 53 minutes), McGrane (Wolverhampton Wanderers) for Rice (68 mins.).
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