Ireland Men’s Under-16s went down to a 2-0 defeat against England at St George’s Park despite a strong display from Paul Osam’s men.

Chelsea's Landon Emenalo and Southampton's Alejandro Rodriguez struck late to win it for the hosts but the young Boys in Green can take heart from a performance that could have seen them win the game.

It was Ireland who created the first chance of the contest in the fourth minute when Billy Hayes broke forward from a counter attack and forced Oliver Mayer into a smart save.

In the 14th minute Ali Topcu was called into action when Harrison Miles hit a fierce strike at goal but the Shelbourne man got down well to parry the effort behind.

Jaden Umeh was the next man to test Mayer when he outpaced the England defence to fire at goal but the Cork City man couldn’t quite apply the finish.

Umeh continued to be a problem for the English side, this time flashing a cross across goal that England scrambling the ball away.

In the 55th minute Ireland made a number of changes and it was one of those substitutes, Goodness Ogbonna, who drew a fine save from substitute goalkeeper Jack Porter when he managed to deflect the volley over the bar for a corner.

Ireland had a glorious chance to take the lead when Oisin McDonagh met a free-kick from close range but could only turn his attempt over the bar.

This would spark England into life and they would score against the run of play in the 70th minute when Emenalo broke from midfield and fired from the edge of the area to find the bottom corner.

Deep into injury time Ramon Martos went close to equalising when his deflected effort flashed just past the post, it would be the last sighter on goal for the visitors as Rodriguez wrapped it up in the closing stages when he rounded the goalkeeper to score after a fine touch.

England: Mayer, Headley, Simmonds (C), McCormack, Mantato, Miles, Howell, Jenner, Midwood, McAidoo, Silsby. Substitutes: Porter, Emenalo, Walsh, Byfield, Nwosu, Hardy, Williams-Bennett, Ngumoha, Rodriguez, Dike, Irow, Braithwaite

Ireland: Topcu (A.Noonan 41’), Oladiti, McDonagh, Steward, Sherlock, McMahon Brown (Martos, 55’), Skoubo Keely (McGrath, 55’), Grady (Ogbonna, 55’), Hayes (O’Neill, 55), Umeh (Kovalevskis, 55’), M.Noonan (Tollett, 55’)