Loss of U21 record saddens Givens

Republic of Ireland boss Don Givens has admitted his disappointment at seeing his side lose their unbeaten record in the Madeira Invitational Tournament.

Ireland, two times winners of the event in the past, had not lost a game in three visits to the island before today’s 1-0 loss to Portugal in Machico.

Sporting Lisbon midfielder Celestino produced a stunning strike to decide the tie in the 39th minute and give his country the trophy.

The Republic had two second-half penalty claims dismissed which were a bigger source of annoyance to Givens than the ultimate result.

He explained: “If we’d drawn the game and still lost the tournament we’d have preserved our unbeaten run here so it’s difficult to lose for the first time after three years here.

“Being realistic we were beaten by a better team.

“We needed a bit of luck and didn’t get anything, certainly from the referee. There were two penalty shouts and we definitely could have got one of them.

“Portugal also had a late shout for one but he set the stall out by not giving our ones.

“But overall we couldn’t criticise the commitments and effort but you have to hold your hands up and say they were better.”

As has happened when the Republic were winners in 2004 and again last year, Givens had to take a second-string squad to Madeira but he was delighted with the effort his players gave.

“There were decent performances and it’s been a very worthwhile trip,” he said.

“The defenders were decent, Stephen O’Halloran was probably our best player overall, while Kieran Murphy looked very solid and Ian Morris and Conor Powell were real pluses.”

Ireland’s next under-21 fixture is a friendly against Holland in Venlo on March 27 when players born after January 1, 1984, will be eligible to play.

The Dutch are preparing for the UEFA Under-21 Championships that they host this summer and have asked the Republic to bring an older panel.

Givens added: “We’ll have the lads born in 1986 involved and might even bring in some older fellas to even up the age difference a little.

“We’ve learned a lot about the ones who were here this week and a few of them will come into contention for the Dutch game.”