The Republic of Ireland opened their UEFA under-18 campaign with a self-

inflicted defeat to France in Hafnarfjordur last night.

And though totally outplayed for long spells by a talented French team,

Ireland contributed greatly to their own downfall by gifting the French their first two goals.

Ireland began well and passed the ball confidently early on but were rocked back on their heels on 13 minutes when they conceded the first of two bad goals.

Alioune Toure swept a fine ball out wide to the left for David Hellebuyk whose cross was completely misjudged by Irish captain, Richard Dunne, and

France's lone striker Louis Saha seemed to have all the time in the world to chest the ball down and volley past Paul Whelan from 12 yards.

Ireland fought back and were deservedly level seven minutes later when pressure from a second successive corner brought an equaliser. Central-defender

David Whittle got up well at the near post to appear to direct Mark Mckeever's corner into the roof of the net with his head. But French midfielder

Hellebruyck was credited with getting the final touch for an own goal.

Ireland had Whelan to thank for three tremendous saves inside five minutes as

France took a stranglehold on the game towards half-time.

Whelan was first called into action on 29 minutes when acrobatically tipping over a header from Saha. Four minutes later he had to parry a powerfully hit, curling free kick from Hellebuyck before finally relieving the pressure when getting down low at his right-hand post to hold another header from dangerman

Saha.

But the pressure told and France were back in front four minutes before half-

time thanks once more to a defensive error.

Toure's cross in from the right was mis-controlled by Saha and Dunne merely cleared the ball wide to Hellebruyck who scored with a terrific left foot drive.

It was all over for Ireland within a minute of the start of the second half when they conceded a third goal. Whelan was given little chance as Toure drove low into his left hand corner with a another powerful shot from just inside the area.

Ireland should have got one back in the 54th minute but Barry Conlon, the hat-trick hero of their play-off win over Norway, headed tamely wide from about ten yards out after Damien Duff had done so well to get down the right and cross.

A lifeline was thrown to Ireland in the 76th minute when substitute Gary

Doherty pulled a goal back. A defensive mix-up put Damien Duff away down the right to cross and McKeever out-jumped the goalkeeper to head down for Doherty to tap in from two yards.

Ireland's second substitute, Richard Sadlier, might have equalised within a minute of coming on but forced the only real save from French goalkeeper Gerard

Gnanhouan.

France were then unlucky not to have added a fourth goal when Toure's audacious 40-yard chip came back off a post.

"You win some, you lose some," said disappointed Irish manager, Brian Kerr.

"We gifted them three goals there tonight and that disappointed me.

"We looked a bit ring rusty and we tried to play a passing game on a poor surface and that did not help us either. France killed us with their pace up front as well.

"They were happy to knock balls in behind us and use their pace and that was the story of the game really."

Saint Patrick's Athletic have strengthened their squad for the coming season by signing right sided midfielder Robbie Devereaux from Dundalk. An experienced player Devereaux has previously had spells at Colchester, Ipswich and

Shelbourne. "Robbie should solve the problem of the right side of midfield where we have lacked a specialist player for some time," said manager Pat Dolan who puts his new squad for this evening's friendly against Charlton Athletic at

Richmond Park. "With the emergence of Eddie Meier and Robbie's arrival, we now have a healthy competition for this area."