A brave performance from Ireland Men's Under-19s saw them go down 1-0 to France in Clairefontaine on Monday morning.

A single goal 12 minutes into the second half was enough for the French to take the win over Tom Mohan's much changed Ireland squad.

Mohan had used the games against the strong French team as an opportunity for him to see all players available to him ahead of qualifiers later this year. With options involved in Colin O'Brien and Jim Crawford's squad it presented other players with an opportunity to show what they could offer the MU19s coach.

While France dominated large spells of the game Ireland were disciplined and kept France (who are three-time European Champions at the Under-19s) limited to efforts.

Ireland got to half time but in the 57th minute it took a wonder strike from 30 yards by captain Axel Tape to break the deadlock. The Bayer Leverkusen defender proving the only difference between the sides in a performance Mohan's team can be proud of.

France: Stawiecki, Tape (C), Angely, Courcoul, Devernois, Mbitcha, Messi, Louer, Dabo, Coulibaly, Dodote: Substitutes: Akabou, Chauvin, Salhi, Cabral, Molebe, Mmadi, El Jamali, Gadgebeku, Seha, Doamo, Muzungu.

Ireland: Schroeder, Roche, Tevenan, McCormack, McCarthy, Sheridan, Moore (C), Sheridan, Oluwabiyi, Lynch, Reid. Substitutes: Gill, Kizenga, Offor, Burell, McGlinchey, McEvoy, Lynskey, Brennan, Ring.

International Friendly Fixtures/Result

Friday, September 5th | France 4-1 Ireland
Monday, September 8th | France 1-0 Ireland

Picture by Phillipe Le Brech