The Republic of Ireland Men’s Under-15s suffered a 2-0 defeat with Poland at Richmond Park on Tuesday afternoon in the first of the friendly double-header between the two nations this week.

First-half goals from Adrian Przyborek and Cyprian Popielec was enough to earn Poland the victory against a spirited Irish side, who were reduced to ten men before half-time.

It was Ireland’s first home game of the season having completed a recent double-header in Montenegro which saw Head Coach Jason Donohue’s side record a 2-0 victory and 1-0 loss in Podgorica.

But it was the visitors who started the game brightly and just three minutes into the game they broke the deadlock when Adrian Przyborek converted a cross from approximately 12 yards out.

The Polish were now full of confidence and shortly before the quarter of an hour mark, they doubled their lead when midfielder Cyprian Popielec produced a sensational piece of skill before slotting the ball past the keeper from the edge of the penalty area.

Ireland soon grew into the game but their hopes of mounting a comeback suffered a huge blow as the first half drew to a close when Christian Donlon was dismissed for a second yellow card offence.

Even with ten men, the boys in green remained competitive in what was a tame second period but the closest they would come to getting on the scoresheet was an ambitious bicycle kick from James Roche which went just past the post late on.

The two teams will meet again at Richmond Park for their second friendly on Thursday afternoon.

Republic of Ireland: Collins, Harnett (Mare 65), O’Donnell (M Moore 83), S Moore (Chan ht), Donlon, Vodo (Roche 65), Marshall (Melia 65), O’Sullivan (Boruc 67), Orazi (Agontaen ht), Graminschil, Mulligan.

Poland: Pruchniewski, Jaroszuk, Sokolowski, Brzyski, Monka, Dziewiatowski, Szczepaniak, Popielec, Stankiewicz, Czulowski, Przyborek (Wasilewski 77).

Referee: Andrew Bruton