Ireland U19s lose to Ukraine

Republic of Ireland U19 2 Ukraine U19 3

Sean McCaffrey’s Republic of Ireland U19 side have lost their opening fixture at the Castelo Branco tournament in Portugal.

Tottenham midfielder Mark Yeates continued his solid international form, netting a brace but the Irish fell to a controversial 84th minute penalty, and ended the game with nine men as both Yeates and defender Kevin Cronin were sent off.

Yeates got off the mark following a brilliant solo run on 29 minutes before the eastern Europeans equalised through Oleksander Sytnyk before the half time whistle.

The Ukraine, who face England next month in the European Championships second qualifying round, went in front in the 58th minute when Oleksander Aliyev curled home a 25-yard free kick.

The Kiev striker was then on hand to place the spot kick, awarded for a push by Alan O’Brien, with six minutes remaining, past Leicester’s Paul Murphy to cancel out Yeates’ second from a free kick on 74 minutes.

Yeates was dismissed for a second bookable offence soon after his goal and Leeds United’s Cronin walked for his protestations at the penalty decision.

The Irish face hosts Portugal in their second game tomorrow evening (6pm Irish time), before a concluding fixture against Norway on Easter Saturday.

Republic of Ireland: Murphy (Leicester City); O’Mahoney (Limerick), Tyrell (Leeds United), Deans (Derby County), Cronin (Leeds United); Cassidy (Derby County), Dawson (Leicester City), Cregg (Arsenal), Yeates (Tottenham Hotspur); Best (Southampton), O’Donovan (Coventry City).

Subs: O’Brien (Newcastle United) for Best, Bonner (Albion Rovers) for O’Donovan (both ht), Painter (Birmingham City) for Tyrell (70 mins), Cousins (Leeds United) for Cassidy (75 mins).