Brian Kerr's under-19 side began their preparations for next April's World Youth Cup finals in Nigeria with an encouraging victory over Denmark in a friendly at Dalymount Park last night.

Consistent rain throughout made conditions difficult for both sides but they nonetheless endeavoured to produce an entertaining game.

Ireland took the lead after 15 minutes when Ronnie O'Brien's in-swinging free kick from the left was helped on by Gary Doherty for Richard Sadlier to head past Christian Kemph in the Denmark goal.

Half-time substitute Barry Ferguson added the second, his first for his country, seven minutes into the second-half when he side-footed home after a Keith Doyle corner.

Republic Of Ireland: Delaney (Everton); Heary (Huddersfield Town), Lynch (Leeds Utd), Doherty (Luton Town), Doyle (St Patrick's Athletic); O'Brien (Middlesborough), Crossley (Celtic), B Quinn (Coventry City), A Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday); Byrne (Liverpool), Sadlier(Millwall), Subs: Gallagher (Celtic) and Ferguson (Coventry City) for Delaney and Doherty (both at half-time), Breslan (Exeter City) and Freeman (Nottingham Forest) for O'Brien and Byrne (both 60 mins), O'Callaghan (Port Vale) and O'Connor (Stoke City) for Crossley and A Quinn (both 76 mins), McGrath (Waterford United) for Heary (85 mins).

Denmark: Kemph (Ikast FS); Andreasen (Esbjerg fB), Christensen (B.1913), Andersen (OB), Jacobsen (OB); Hansen (Naestved Boldklub), Karlsen (B.93), Haiba (Boldklubben Ferm), Jorgensen (AGF); Panduro (OB), El Banna (OB). Subs: Johanson (Brondby IF) and Dogan (FC Copenhagen) for Karlsen and Panfuro (both 64 mins), Bunde (AaB) for El Banna (77 mins).

Referee: G Perry (Dublin).