The Republic of Ireland wound up their Under-19 four nations competition with a game against the tournament winners Spain in Athlone.
With defeats in their two previous games the Irish were just playing for pride against a Spanish side which easily maintained a 100% record.
The visitors had the first chance of the game when a shot from Yago Falque just cleared the crossbar on seven minutes.
Five minutes later Spain took the lead as they were rewarded for their patient build up from their own half.
The move ended when a long range strike from the right by Mario Gaspar was touched onto the post by goalkeeper Kieron Thorp with the ball then trickling over the line for a fortunate opening score.
Ireland was rarely seen as an attacking force in the opening half as Spain dominated for long periods.
Mario Gaspar was looking to add to his goal tally and tested Thorp with a low shot 10 minutes from the break.
In a quick breakaway attack soon after Ismael Lopez again brought out the best in the Irish goalkeeper who did well to push around his post a powerful strike from the number eleven.
Ireland rallied somewhat as half time approached but the nearest they came to getting on the score sheet was when a free kick from Conor Henderson was put behind for a corner kick.
The second half was just three minutes old when a dreadful mistake by the Irish defence allowed Spain double their advantage. A cross from the left saw substitute goalkeeper Gerard Hanley and his central defenders get their signals crossed and handed Yago Falque with a clear path to goal which allowed him roll the ball into an empty net.
Hanley redeemed himself somewhat after 54 minutes when he tipped over his bar a shot from the right by Jose Luis Sanmartin. Ireland's best chance of the game came close to the hour mark when after Conor Clifford was fouled just outside the penalty area the resulting free kick from Jamie Devitt was pushed behind by Spanish keeper Diego Marino.
Callum Morris had a good chance to reduce the deficit after 71 minutes but shot over from a good position inside the penalty area. A Conor Henderson shot which was saved by the 'keeper five minutes from full time was the final chance for Ireland to grab a consolation score.
Republic of Ireland: K Thorp (G Hanley h/t); L Oyebanjo; S O’Connor (P Madden 74m); C Morris; D Kelly; J Devitt (D McNamara 92m); I Daly (M Collins 84m); D McCrory (G Gunning 65m); C Henderson; C Clifford; N McArdle.
Spain: D Marino; M Gaspar; D Rochela; C Lazaro (S Gonzalez 67m); J P Ripolles; J L Sanmartin (S Enrich 55m); Y Falque (J Romero 74m – J Saez 78m); I Lopez; J A Rios; M A Luque; J I Fernandez.
