European Under-21 Championship/France - 1 Republic of Ireland - 0: The Republic of Ireland Under-21s' hopes of qualifying for the 2006 European Championship finals suffered a late hammer blow against France last night.
Following a 4-2 defeat to Switzerland a month ago, this was a match manager Don Givens' side could not afford to lose at the Stade de l'Aube in Troyes.
The Irish proceeded to produce a stout rearguard display against France and came within just six minutes of what would have been a precious point from this Group Four clash.
The first half was nondescript. Although France controlled the game in terms of possession, they barely created a noteworthy chance.
Sebastien Grax sent a ninth-minute header wide, and then just before the break Liverpool striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle produced a fine save from Notts County goalkeeper Wayne Henderson.
In between, Ireland's one and only chance of the opening 45 minutes came in the 28th when Darren Potter sent Stephen Capper clean through, only for the Scarborough defender to have the ball whipped off his toes by Jeremy Gavanon.
It really was a story of two halves, because the second provided a catalogue of opportunities, primarily for the home side.
Jeremy Toulalan, Franck Ribery and Sinama-Pongolle all put the Ireland defence under pressure early in the second half.
In the 56th minute France should have broken the deadlock when Emerse Fae dispossessed Glen Whelan before sending Grax clean through, but from 10 yards the striker drove his shot into the side-netting.
Ireland swiftly responded through lively Manchester City winger Willo Flood. But Gavanon blocked his first close-range effort, and then from the rebound a second bite at the cherry was sent into the side-netting.
In the 76th minute the chance appeared to have arrived for France to finally open the scoring when Ireland captain Stephen Kelly clearly brought down Grax inside the box. But Sinama-Pongolle drove his spot-kick wide.
Then, though, in the 84th minute - when Aiden McGeady became the third Ireland player booked in the second half, following yellow cards for Paddy McCarthy and Henderson - France had another chance to grab the winner.
This time, Sinama-Pongolle made amends by lofting in the free-kick from just outside the right-hand edge of the area - and from 12 yards Drouin rose unchallenged to head home.
FRANCE: Gavanon, Drouin, Berthod, Faty, Aubey, Toulalan, Fae, Ribery, Mathieu, Sinama Pongolle, Grax. Subs: Chaigneau, Clichy, Didot, Bergougnoux, Faubert, Taider, Ebondo.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Henderson, Kelly, Capper, Fitzgerald, McCarthy, Whelan, Flood, Potter, Daryl Murphy, Tabb, McGeady. Subs: Brian Murphy, Foley, Doyle, Kearney, McStay, Dawson, Mulligan.
Referee: Kuddusi Muftuoglu (Turkey)
