The Republic of Ireland had to settle for a frustrating fourth place at the UEFA under-18 finals as their play-off with Spain seemed destined to go against them before it even kicked off at Hafnarfjordur, Iceland yesterday.

Spain won with two gifted goals from bad Irish defending, but manager Brian Kerr can draw satisfaction from the fact that Ireland outplayed a very strong Spanish team for long spells and had enough chances to have won comfortably.

Ireland were dealt their first blow prior to the match when team captain Richard Dunne withdrew with a septic throat and Thomas Heary came into central defence.

Kerr had already pulled a surprise by leaving central defender David Whittle and midfielder Stephen McPhail out of the team.

McPhail came on unexpectedly early when Damien Duff hobbled off after only 14 minutes with an injury to his right ankle.

But even by that stage the action-packed opening to the game had provided two goals with Ireland taking a fifth-minute lead. Richard Sadlier, making his first start, did well to burst through down the right and, though Lee Boylan mishit the cross, the ball rebounded into the path of Sadlier who shot home from 12 yards.

However, poor marking from a corner had Spain level three minutes later.Miguel Nunez had time and space to knock down Jose Baquero's corner and Mario Bermejo volleyed home from from close-in.

Ireland then conceded a calamitous second goal after 17 minutes. Heary's poor first touch saw him booked for giving away a dubious free-kick.

Goalkeeper Paul Whelan fumbled the shot from Miguel Ferrer and Bermejo did well to pull the ball back across goal for right-back Jordi Ferron to arrive and cleanly sidefoot home from the edge of the box.

Ireland fought back bravely, but despite near misses from Barry Quinn, McPhail and Gary Doherty it wasn't to be their night.