Smith hands reins to Givens

“IT was like getting out of jail after a ten year stretch only to get a smack of a bus.”

Thus Ireland U20 manager Gerry Smith's summed up his side's exit to Colombia in the last 16 of the World Youth Championship in Al Ain on Tuesday night.

Colombia appeared home and hosed as they led 2-0 with six minutes to play, but goals from Kevin Doyle and then Paddy McCarthy two minutes into stoppage time forced extra-time before Erwin Carrillo's golden goal put Ireland out "After getting the two goals back you felt we could have won it in extra-time," added Smith "It's a huge disappointment to be out. We certainly would have fancied our chances against the UAE in Dubai on Friday. It just wasn't to be.