Under-21 international/Netherlands 1 Rep of Ireland 0:Ireland's Under-21 side suffered a narrow defeat in a friendly at Venlo last night.

Stephen Ward had a first-half penalty saved and Aston Villa's Stephen O'Halloran was shown a late red card for a foul that never happened.

Manager Don Givens had recent senior squad members Darron Gibson, Darren O'Dea and Stephen Quinn in his starting line-up, with Darren Randolph on the bench.

The Netherlands were, on average, two years older than the Irish as they were preparing for this summer's Uefa Championships finals.

Ward's pace earned him the penalty he ultimately missed in the 31st minute. The Wolves striker broke through on a Tony Kane pass and went down under a challenge by Boy Waterman, but the goalkeeper redeemed himself.

Robbert Schilder hit Darren Quigley's left post in first-half injury-time with a blistering strike from 30 yards out.

Feyenoord defender Royston Drenthe grabbed the winner with a brilliant curling free-kick from the edge of the box on 72 minutes.

O'Halloran was ordered off in the 82nd minute, but replays showed winger Roy Beerens had not been touched.

Irish substitute goalkeeper Randolph showed his class with a late save to deny Drenthe a second.

NETHERLANDS:Waterman; Janse, Vlaar, Kruiswijk, Drenthe, Maduro, Beerens, Sno, Rigters, Schilder, Bakkal. Subs:Lens for Sno (4 mins); Donk for Kruiswijk, Zuiverloon for Janse, Jong-a-Pin for Bakkal (all 46 mins); Janssen for Rigters (78 mins).

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:Quigley (UCD); Kane (Blackburn), O'Halloran (Aston Villa), O'Cearuill (Arsenal), O'Dea (Celtic), Gibson (Manchester Utd), Keegan (Drogheda Utd), Quinn (Sheffield Utd), O'Brien (Celtic), Ward (Wolves), Clarke (Ipswich). Subs:Randolph (Charlton) for Quigley (46 mins); Rooney (Stoke City) for Ward 72; Keogh (Bristol City) for O'Cearuill (81 mins); Powell (Bohemians) for O'Brien (83 mins).

Referee: F Brych(Germany).