The republic of Ireland's stature in underage international football moved another significant step higher as Brian Kerr led his under-16s to the semi-finals of the UEFA Youths' Championship after an emphatic win over Denmark in their quarter-final at Forthbank Stadium, Stirling, yesterday.

It's the first time an Irish under16 side has made the last four in Europe. They now meet Portugal, 4-1 winners over Israel in their quarter-final, at McDiarmid Park, Perth, tomorrow night in what promises to be a far more testing experience than this tie with a Danish team who scarcely put up a challenge as Ireland cruised to a more comfortable win than even the scoreline would suggest.

The only disappointing feature of the match for Ireland was the yellow card received by striker David McMahon early in the second-half. It was his second booking of the tournament and means he is suspended for the semi-final.

It was unfortunate for the big Newcastle United-based player as he was instrumental in many of Ireland's attacks and was involved in both goals.

Having forced a superb save from the Danish goalkeeper, Henrik Bodker, with a crisply hit volley on 22 minutes, McMahon's touch set up Graham Barret who shot Ireland in front from the edge of the box on 32 minutes.

It was a sweeping move by Ireland and epitomised all that Kerr has done. He has brought success to his teams - and done so while playing football.

Keith Foy combined with Barrett up the left and the Arsenal striker's one-two with McMahon reaped the reward of the goal it deserved as he shot to the corner of the net.

The goal spared the blushes of central defender Jim Goodwin who had missed the proverbial sitter six minutes earlier when sidefooting over the crossbar from McMahon's knock down.

Denmark, a huge disappointment in the first-half, seemed to try a little harder after the interval, but were never allowed to put any substance to their mediocre game.

McMahon received his costly booking for a challenge on Micahel Silberbauer on 50 minutes. Admirably, it scarcely affected him and he was back tormenting the Danes again four minutes later when heading a Brendan McGill centre against their crossbar.

Within a further minute, Ireland sealed their, at times, pedestrian win.

Substitute Kevin Grogan played the ball up the left for McMahon to cross and captain Shaun Byrne arrived in the penalty area to chest the ball down before volleying into the roof of the net for a terrific goal.

"It's a remarkable achievement for us to be in the top four of 51 European countries," said a delighted Kerr afterwards. "We never looked in any real danger from the Danes. We got an excellent opening goal from Graham Barrett which settled us down.

"The Danes came at us a little bit more in the second-half, but we wrapped it up with another great goal from Shaun Byrne.

"I'm disappointed David McMahon is out of the semi-final because he's such an honest lad and he has to take a lot of stick. He also didn't deserve to be booked in my view. He perhaps needs a rest and maybe he'll be back for the final!"

The semi-final place also means an invitation to South Africa for the Meridian Cup in January where the top four in Europe take on the leading four nations in Africa in a competition devised to enhance footballing links between UEFA and CAF, the Confederation of African Football.