Noble brace sinks Ireland

Republic of Ireland U21 0 England U21 3:Don Given's will be disappointed with the result but not the performance after his Ireland under-21s were beaten 3-0 in the European Championships Group Three qualifier in Turner's Cross this evening.

Two first half goals from West Ham's Mark Noble and a 27 th minute deflected shot goal from Newcastle's James Milner did the damage but Ireland were never found wanting in passion, pride or ability, though defensively they lacked cohesion at times.

Ireland stay bottom of Group Three after defeat to Portugal at the weekend but England retake top spot from them with their fourth win in a row.

Ireland opened brightly with the strike partnership of Adam Rooney and Anthony Stokes looking lively, but the latter's shot after a neat one-two was too tame to trouble Joe Hart in the England net.

It took England just 10 minutes to open the scoring and it came from the boot of Noble when he neatly dropped the ball over Ireland's Darren Randolf after the goalkeeper fumbled a routine cross from the left back Andrew Taylor.

Stokes responded with a nice turn and shot but Hart was equal to it again.

Billy Clarke was also looking lively on the left wing for Ireland, but England doubled their advantage in the 17 th minute after more slack defending from the homeside allowed Gabriel Agbonlahor in behind with plenty of space to find Noble who fired home his second.

Ireland rallied again and when Clarke was taken down on the edge of the box, Stokes's low free-kick had to be deflected behind.   Murray appeared to be impeded from the resulting corner but the referee did not agree with the Irishman's claim.

It was to prove even more costly moments later when James Milner turned inside the box to unleash a shot that deflected off the back of Ireland captain Darren O'Dea and into the Irish net.

Ireland's spirit was commendable and the played some nice attacking football in the closing stages of the first half, but could not find a way past Hart despite the best efforts of Rooney and Clarke.

Jim O'Brien escaped with a yellow card in the 55 th minute when he put in a wild tackle on Milner, but Owen Garvan was unfortunate to be booked for 'diving' in the English box a moment later, though the challenge looked fair.

Noble twice went in search of his third but on the first occasion Randolf saw his measured shot all the way, while his mazy run ended with his shot being deflected behind.

Ireland provided the move of the match on the hour with neat interplay between Stokes and Rooney, whose shot was blocked, before Garvan embarrassingly blazed over an open goal only to be relieved to see the offside flag.

England threatened late on with shots from Tom Huddlestone and Luke Moore but they could not add to the flattering scoreline.