By Gary Spate
March 17 2003

JUST a single error by goalkeeper Tim Ditmer confined the Ireland Under 19s to defeat in the Oporto Tournament in Portugal on Saturday. Ditmer palmed a dangerous shot into the back of his own net to give Portugal a 1-0 victory and the top spot in the tournament.

"It's disappointing, but this tournament has been very worthwhile," manager Sean McCaffrey told the Football Association of Ireland's official web site. "I think we were the best footballing side in the tournament and seven or eight of the players here have played their way into the squad for the European Championship qualifiers in May.

"The downsides were that we conceded four goals and three of them were avoidable while we only scored two goals from loads of chances. But we're moving in the right direction and with the players who missed this tournament back for the qualifiers, I think we should be strong. We're still a little light in three or four positions but hopefully the players who will be available can fill them in."

Ireland began the game in control but the early goal from Portugal gave Ireland an uphill struggle.

Robbie Shields came close for Ireland with a stinging shot but then Ireland were reduced to ten men as Danny Byrne was harshly given his marching orders.

Ireland were awarded a freekick but a Portuguese player picked up the ball to delay time. Byrne rushed in and took the ball off him and the referee outrageously then showed Byrne the red card.

Team: Ditmer (Liverpool), Deery (Derry City), Ennis (Aston Villa), Clancy (Millwall), Cronin (Leeds United), McCafferty (Charlton Athletic), Bradley (Arsenal), Keegan (Leeds United), Timlin (Fulham), Mulvihill (Longford Town), Yeats (Tottenham Hotspur).

Subs:
Flood (Bray Wanderers) on for Cronin on 25 minutes
Shields (Leeds United) on for Mulvihill at halftime
Byrne (Manchester United) on for Timlin on 70 minutes
Doyle (Bohemians) on for Yeats on 75 minutes