Ireland Boys Under-15s went down 5-1 in the first of a friendly double-header against Portugal after being reduced to 10 players just before half-time.

The young Boys in Green produced some excellent football in the first half, coming back from an early set-back when Martim Ribeiro gave the hosts and early lead.

Aliyev deservedly put Ireland level when he benefited from some excellent centre forward play by Archie Quinn who laid the ball off for the midfielder to strike home just before the half-hour mark.

But it would be a two minute period the game would turn on it’s head. Portugal went 2-1 ahead when Cassiano Silva delivered a quality cross and Diego Farinha was able to angle his header home.

Then in injury time, Maxim Afonin was sent off for bringing down Ribeiro as he was in on goal, giving Ireland an up-hill battle.

With changes made at half-time and a Ireland a player down, what had been a close contest in the first half went all the way of Portugal.

Emiliano Cassama went through on goal and found a finish in the 53^rd minutes, then Antonio Pereira got on the end of a cross on the hour mark to make it four.  In final minutes Portgual were awarded a penalty which Rafael Cabral converted.

Despite the result Ireland can take heart from their performance with 11 players. The sides meet again on Sunday.

Portugal: Amorim, Balde, Pedrose, Tavares, Silva, Castro, Cassama, Fontes, Ribeiro, Pereira: Substitutions: Marques, S. Ribeiro, V. Fernandes, L. Fernandes, Batista, Lopes, Pereira, Cabral, Bock.

Ireland: McGarvey (Byrne, 75), Culleton, Afonin, Marshall, O’Halloran (Nicholls, 54), O’Dwyer (Collins, 62), Alliyev (Dunne, 54), Zeller (O’Donnell, 54), Lynch (Nolan, 41), Kelly (Echefu, 75), Quinn (Okeoeo, 75)