Ireland, under manager Pat Fenlon, confined selection of the team to players who were playing in the FAI League of Ireland.

They made a very positive start by defeating Slovakia at Dalymount Park and a fortunate win over Northern Ireland meant they approached their third game in the group against Belgium needed a draw to qualify for the final.

Ireland seemed to have secured that passage as the game moved into added time and the teams tied at 1-1 but Belgium snatched a winning goal four minutes into the added time and took Ireland's place in the final.

International Challenge Trophy for U23 teams
Inaugural competition, 2007 - 2009

Results:

13/11/'07: Republic of Ireland 2 - 0  Slovakia, Dalymount Park        Match Report
                Gavin Peers
                Killian Brennan

13/05/'08: Northern Ireland 0 - 1  Republic of Ireland, Mourneview Park    Match Report
                                                        Stephen Rice 90 + 2

21/10/'08: Republic of Ireland 1 - 2  Belgium, Dalymount Park      Match Report
                 Ger O'Brien 80                  Jelle Vossen 64
                                                           David Hubert 90 + 4