Republic of Ireland Under-21s were defeated by back-to-back European Champions England 2-0 in a challenging conditions in Birmingham.

A penalty from Divin Mubama and late strike from Chelsea Tyrique George condemned Ireland to defeat not before Noah Jauny saved a first half penalty and Jim Crawford’s side creating a series of chances that had the English side on the back foot for large parts of the game.

England were gifted a penalty after 22 minutes when Adam Murphy was adjudged to have fouled George inside the area.

Mubama stepped up but Jauny was equal to it to keep Ireland level.

Just before half time it was the England goalkeeper’s turn to feel threatened when he had to claw away a goal-bound Jacob Devaney cross that would have given Ireland the lead.

Ireland cane out in the second half on the front foot and Trent Kone-Doherty, making his  first start for the Under-21s, saw his rasping effort narrowly go over the cross bar.

As Ireland pushed for the lead they hit with a sucker punch when referee Luliana Demetrescu awarded England their second penalty of the night. This time it was claimed Jad Hakiki had tripped Lewis Hall but the replays suggest otherwise.

Mubama stepped up, Jauny guessed the right way and got a hand to it but the ball carried enough pace to cross the line.

Devaney almost hit back for 1-1 when his attempt went narrowly wide as Ireland continued to go at England.

Conor McManus, back in the squad after injury, saw his cross fizz across the face of goal as Ireland went on the search for the equaliser.

But as the clock struck 90 minutes and moment of class from George would seal the game for 2-0. The Chelsea wide man worked his way into the box, fired at goal from a narrow angle and into the roof of the Irish net.

Next up for Ireland is an away trick to Andorra on Tuesday evening (kick-off, 6.30pm).

England: Stetford, Lewis (Small, 70’), Acheampong, Alleyne, Hall (Norton-Cuffy, 70’), Miley (Peck 75’), Bellingham (C), Gittens (King, 61’), Nwaneri, Mubama (Dibling, 75’), George.

Ireland: Jauny, Abankwah, Okagbue, Grehan, McManus, Devaney, Murphy (Moorhouse, 81’), Lipsiuc (Mullins, 87’), Akachukwu (Hakiki, 46’), Kone-Doherty, Melia (O’Mahony, 69’).