Ireland Boys Under-15s went down 3-1 against hosts Croatia in the UEFA Development Tournament in Zagreb this afternoon.

Blake Lynch’s cross-come-shot gave Ireland a lead which they held onto until the break, but Croatia netted three unanswered goals in the second period to earn the win.

Jason Donohue’s team had recorded a convincing win days earlier when they overcame Slovenia 5-2 in their first international as a group.

But they knew they were in for a sterner test than their previous game and were the fastest of the two teams out of the traps as they were ahead in the 11th minute.

Lynch’s corner found an Ireland player but the wayward effort found itself back at the feet of the St. Patrick’s Athletic wide-man. His cross wrong footed the goalkeeper and looped into the back of the net for 1-0.

The visitors looked to be the stronger of the sides but Croatia always looked a danger. Sebastian Clarke produced a stunning one-handed save to deny Lovro Špičko when his powerful header looked goalbound. The St. Patrick’s Athletic stopper got up quick to smother the rebound as he kept Ireland ahead.

But after the break Croatia would turn the game around. First, Marin Nekić capitalised on a poor clearance at the back to equalise for the hosts in the 49^th minute then Liam Claude Kante put Croatia ahead on the hour mark when he got on the end of a flick on from a corner.

Ireland pushed for an equaliser. Archie Quinn’s flick from a free-kick forced a fine save from the Croatian goalkeeper and when the ball rebounded to Josh O’Dwyer he could only head over.

Lynch went close late on when his curling effort just went wide of the top corner but as Ireland went in search for a second goal Croatia extended their lead in last minute when Emmanuel Vajda finished from close range.

Next up for Ireland is their final game of the tournament which comes against Lithuania on Monday afternoon.

Croatia: Vunić, Bartolović, Cvjetović, Joka, Kikić, Kante, Misura, Nekič, Soldan, Trupčevic Vajda. Substitutes: Lojen, Babok, Benko, Trajanovski, Martinovic, Presecan, Škegro, Špičko

Ireland: Clarke, Malone-Byrne, Marshall, Kibaga (Afonin, 46’), Nolan (L. Kelly, 75’), O’Dwyer (C) (Ennis, 75’), Lynch, Reilly (Aliyev, 59’), Daly (O’Halloran, 59’), Quinn, Echefu (E.Kelly, 75’).

Referee: Filip Dragašević (Croatia)

Ireland Boys Under-15s UEFA Development Tournament fixtures/results (all kick-offs are Irish time)

Wednesday, September 18 | Slovenia 2-5 Ireland
Friday, September 20 | Croatia 3-1 Ireland
Monday, September 23 | Ireland v Lithuania, Zagreb, Croatia, KO 3.30pm