The Republic of Ireland Under-19’s European championship qualification bid was ended following a 3-1 defeat to Turkey in Senec, Slovakia this morning.
The Republic needed to claim victory to redeem any hope of progressing to the finals in July after losing their opening game of the series 3-2 against hosts Slovakia on Friday.
Trailing 1-0 at half-time, Stoke City striker Adam Rooney fired a fantastic equaliser in for Ireland eight minutes after the break to lift their spirits but the Turks replied with two more goals before the finish.
Slovakia beat Georgia 4-1 in the other game, leaving themselves and Turkey to battle it out for top spot in the group when they meet on Tuesday. Ireland's remaining game against Georgia on the same day, again in Senec, will decide who finishes third and fourth.
Turkey won the UEFA Under-17 title last season and many of that successful team form part of the squad that have been so impressive in Slovakia this week. They beat Georgia 6-0 in their opening game on Friday.
Irish manager Sean McCaffrey believes that Ireland was knocked out of contention by the possible European Champions: "I said before the tournament began that this was the game we had to win because Turkey was going to be the favourites to qualify. I am very disappointed for the lads because we played really well; they know they did well but they are very down at the minute."
He continued: "I could make excuses by saying we were without Chris McCann and Ian Morris (both injured) and Darron Gibson (didn't travel - hernia) but the boys out there played very well."
Turkey took the lead in the 33rd minute - after Ireland had the better of the early stages - when Erkin Caner headed home a cross from Baris' on the left.
Rooney equalised on 53 minutes when he picked up a ball that broke from a Stephen Gleeson tackle on half-way, sprinted towards goal, around the keeper and slipped the ball into the back of the net.
But Turkey scored two more goals - both from close range through Turan Arda and Parlak Ilhan - to summon Ireland to their second defeat in three days.
Irish substitute Shane Long was sent-off with a minute of normal time left.
Republic of Ireland: Shane Supple (Ipswich Town); Sean Kelly (Arsenal), Eddie Nolan (Blackburn), Darren O'Dea (Celtic), Simon Madden (Leeds Utd); Michael Spillane (Norwich), John Paul Kelly (Bohemians – captain), Stephen Gleeson (Wolves); Anthony Stokes (Arsenal), Adam Rooney ( Stoke City), Billy Clarke (Ipswich Town).
Subs: James O'Brien (Celtic) for Gleeson 69, Shane Long (Reading) for Spillane 75, Jonathan Hayes (Reading) for Clarke 78.
