Ireland ended their European under-21 championship campaign with a disappointing defeat by a slick Romanian side at United Park, Drogheda last night. A two-goal cushion was no more than the visitors deserved at the break. But Ian Evans's young charges were a little unlucky not to salvage something from the game following a gritty and determined second half display.

Evans made two changes at the break bringing on Dessie Baker and Anthony Folan in place of Barry Conlon and John Burns. Once the new pairings had settled into the action they wreaked havoc in the Romanian defence.

Eleven minutes after the break Baker was played in by Alan Mahon but Bogdan Lobont reacted well when saving low to his left. A minute later Baker was only a fraction away from connecting with a Folan cross to the far post.

Perhaps the best chance of the game from an Irish point of view came on 62 minutes when both Baker and Folan again had efforts stopped.

The opening goal came after two minutes. Laurento Reghecampf supplied a superb diagonal ball for Sabin Ilie on the edge of the Irish 18-yard box. But, while Derek O'Connor got a hand to Ilie's firsttime shot, he failed to hold and Florentin Petre pounced to score from six yards.

It was no surprise when the visitors doubled their advantage after 27 minutes with Rcsu taking advantage of confusion in the Irish defence to score from close range from a Petre pass.