Ireland Boys Under-15s went down 5-0 to hosts Portugal in their opening game of the UEFA Development tournament in Lisbon.

Two goals in the first half from were followed by a further three goals in the second half as the Irish team found it to be a tough afternoon against the Portuguese.

The home side were ahead early on when captain Tiago Portugal flicked in a near post header from a corner.

In the 25th minute it was 2-0. A cross from right from Igor Rebeiro failed to be cleared and the grounded Tiago Portugal managed to react fastest to flick the ball past Adam Madejek in the Ireland goal.

In the second half Ireland had an excellent chance to pull one back. Galway United's Ronan Keating putting an inviting cross across the face of the Portugal goal, Fionn Crowe couldn't quite meet the ball properly as it skimmed off his head and away for what would have been a vital goal.

In the 67th minute it was 3-0. A corner was brilliantly flicked across goal by the heel of Porto's Rebeiro and Sporting Lisbon defender Nicolas Aparicio was there to head. 

Less than a minute later it was 4-0 when a spilled shot fell to Rodrigo Seca to tap in. The scoring was finished when Jacabo Aparico was left free at the back post to convert his header for the game's fifth goal.

Ireland return to action on Friday morning when they take on Ukraine.

Portugal: Cabecana, Paradela, N. Aparicio, Goncalves, I. Ribeiro, Mendonca, Portugal (C), Seca, Leite. Substitutes: Cruz, Freitas, Salgado, Meireles, Valente, Deldicq, J. Aparicio, Busatori, Conte, Quino, Alves.

Ireland: Madejek, Morgan, Senga, Casey (Lee, 79'), Moran (Savage, 64') Carney (Jakas, 64'), Crowe (C) (Rehill, 64') Isakadze (Manicle, 79'), Bonner, Magil (Hudson, 46'), Keating (Power, 79')

UEFA DEVELOPMENT TOURNAMENT
Wednesday December 17th | Portugal BU15 5-0 Ireland BU15
Friday, December 19th | Ukraine BU15 v Ireland BU15, Cidade do Futebol, Lisbon, KO 11:00
Monday, December 22nd | Greece BU15 v Ireland BU15, Cidade do Futebol, Lisbon, KO 10:30