Brian Kerr's Republic of Ireland were left frustrated in Scotland yesterday as their enterprising performance wasn't rewarded with the three points it deserved in their opening match of the UEFA under-16 championship at Forthbank Stadium, Stirling. The result itself is encouraging, but the truth is that Ireland went away disappointed after not taking something far more tangible from a match they dominated until a nerve-tangling last 10 minutes when the Scots almost snatched an undeserved win.

The Irish team, which survived a second-minute scare when goalkeeper Joseph Murphy had to palm away under pressure from Ian Murray, took the game to the disappointing Scots for much of the remainder of the game.

Liam Miller failed to punish an error by Scottish captain, Chris Doig, when blazing over on five minutes before Ireland wasted the game's best scoring opportunity seven minutes later.

A clearance from John O'Shea sent Brendan McGill away down the left. He outpaced a defender to cross; a backtracking Scot missed his clearance to set up David McMahon from 15 yards, but he drove the ball straight at Scottish goalkeeper Mark Brown.

Brown then had to keep Scotland in the game with another excellent save on 19 minutes. Kevin Grogan got a flick with his head to an Andrew Reid free-kick and Brown reacted well to put the ball out for a corner.

Ireland continued to run the match well into the second-half but the frustration grew in unison with a litany of missed chances.

McMahon, of Newcastle United, was the chief culprit as he wasted two openings within five minutes of the restart.

McGill was the chief tormentor of the Scots on the right of Ireland's attack and he had an angled shot cleared off the line by the busy Doig on 46 minutes.

McMahon was then lucky to remain on the field after he appeared to strike Doig when the two tangled two minutes later. Both received yellow cards. The Irish striker's frustration was only added to on 65 minutes when he headed wide from an excellent cross by the magnificent McGill.

Scotland, who had not been in the game at all, then came to life in the final nine minutes, roused in confidence by Burton O'Brien heading against the Irish crossbar from a Paul McHale cross.

Liam Keogh was then clean through on goal for Scotland three minutes from time only to delay his shot, which was scrambled away for a corner.

Ireland weren't out of the woods yet and Scotland had two late chances, but on each occasion justice was seen to be done when O'Brien shot wide when he had the opportunity to give the Scots what would have been a most undeserved win.

"When we beat them in Dublin two months ago they were the better side," said Irish manager Brian Kerr. Today, we were probably the better side until the last 10 minutes or so.

"Their goalkeeper played very well, and we missed a succession of chances. That was the story of the match."

Republic Of Ireland: Murphy (Tranmere Rovers); Thompson (Home Farm), Good- win (Celtic), O'Shea (Waterford Bohemians), Foy (Nottingham Forest); S Byrne (West Ham United), Miller (Celtic), Grogan (Manchester United); McGill (Rivervalley Rangers), McMahon (Newcastle United), Reid (Nottingham Forest). Sub: D Byrne (Cherry Orchard) for Goodwin (59 mins).

Scotland: Brown (Rangers); McDonald (Dundeee United), Doig (Nottingham Forest), Goldie (Hearts); McHale (Rangers), Willianms (Nottingham Forest), Gibson (Rangers), Murray (Dundee United), O'Brien (St Mirren); Kerr (Newcastle United), Keogh (Celtic).

Referee: K Alseth (Norway).