A physically stronger and talented French team outclassed Brian Kerr's latest crop of Irish youths in an under-16 friendly international at Frank Cooke Park yesterday.

The hugely impressive French, arguably the best team in Europe at this level, were made to fight most of the way by a gutsy Irish side which could have been 2-0 up before the French settled down to control the match.

As it was, Ireland had to settle for their only goal from a seventh minute penalty calmly converted by left-back Keith Foy, after Sean Byrne's cross had been handled by French defender, Amand Faget.

Brendan McGill was then unlucky not to have punished a mistake by Phillipe Mexes nine minutes later when his curling shot was literally inches wide of an upright.

France then properly punished a rash challenge by Irish central defender Jim Goodwin to equalise in the 32nd minute. Hassan Ahamada touched the free to Mathieu Beda who cracked home a low drive from 20 yards.

France soon began to run the game and Ireland's crossbar saved them from conceding the lead seven minutes before half-time when Herve Bugnet's shot came back down off it and was cleared.

But there was no stopping France in the second half as they methodically ground Ireland down with some delightful football before man of the match Beda struck again for the winner on 64 minutes. Collecting a one-two with Bugnet, he shot past goalkeeper Joe Murphy.

Republic Of Ireland: Murphy (Tranmere Rovers); Thompson (Home Farm), Goodwin (Celtic), O'Shea (Bohemians, Waterford), Foy (Nottingham Forest); McGill (River Valley Rangers, Swords), Byrne (West Ham United), Dempsey (Everton), Molloy (Manchester United); McMahon (Newcastle United), Barrett (Arsenal). Subs: Butler (Sunderland) for Byrne (30 mins), Kennedy (Leeds United) for Molloy (half-time), Grogan (Manchester United) for McMahon (54 mins), Millar (Ballincollig, Cork) for Dempsey (69 mins), O'Brien (Leeds United) and Warren (Mayfield, Cork) for Thompson and Foy (both 75 mins).

France: Gauglin; Faget, Mexes, Beda, Givet; Fabiano, Deom, Ahamada, Vignal; Cisse, Bugnet. Subs: Kamata for Cisse (57 mins), Mathis for Vignal (60 mins), Boisfer for Fabiano (70 mins).

Referee: E Barr (Dublin).