A largely experimental Ireland fell to two first-half goals by Scotland in freezing conditions at Whitehall last night.

Brian Kerr's side, with eight changes from the team that beat Denmark on Tuesday night, went behind after just two minutes. Striker Derek Riordan beat goalkeeper Saul Deeny with a low left-foot drive.

Scotland, who will meet Ireland in the UEFA Under-16 finals in Israel in May if they win their qualifying group with Portugal and Austria, scored again on 36 minutes when Simon Lappin had the simple task of tapping the ball home.

Ireland had more possession in the second half but only two shots from captain Keith Fahey troubled Scotland's substitute goalkeeper William Bald.

Rep of Ireland: Deeny (Notts County); Rossiter (Sunderland), Gartland (Home Farm), Kelly (Tottenham Hotspur), Kendricks (Newcastle United); Brennan (Newcastle United), Ward (Bolton Wanderers), Fahey (Manchester City), Ryan (Wolverhampton Wanderers); Mooney (Belvedere), Murphy (Celtic). Subs: Feeney (Leeds United), Gilroy (Sligo Rovers), Graydon (Sunderland) for Gartland, Ryan and Mooney (all at halftime), Murphy (Manchester City) for Deeny (59 mins), White (Belvedere) and Fenton (Nottingham Forest) for Kelly and Murphy (both 68 mins.).

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).