Madeira Under-21 Tournament: A second-half goal by Milton Keynes Dons defender Kieran Murphy was the difference as the Republic of Ireland under-21 side started the Madeira tournament with a win last night.
Don Givens's side are the holders of the trophy and the Republic will play hosts Madeira today at 4pm.
John-Paul Kelly was denied on 25 minutes when he latched on to David Bracken's lay-off only to see goalkeeper Lukas Hrosso save his low strike. Kelly fired the rebound over.
And Ireland should have gone ahead in the 28th minute when Jim O'Brien's looping cross from the right was nodded back by Bracken and Kelly headed against the bar from eight yards.
A driving run by Jon Hayes in the 61st minute ended up with his clip deflecting off the goalkeeper on to an upright for a corner, which O'Brien curled on to Murphy's head and he powered home the winner.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Russell (Chelsea); Kane (Blackburn), Powell (Bohemians), O'Cearuill (Arsenal), O'Halloran (Aston Villa), Kelly (Bohemians), Chambers (Shelbourne), Morris (Scunthorpe), O'Brien (Celtic), Bracken (Glenavon), Clarke (Ipswich). Subs: Hayes (Reading) for Bracken, Murphy (MK Dons) for O'Cearuill (both 45 mins), Curran (Sligo Rovers) for Chambers (56 mins), Simmonds (Chelsea) for Kelly (75 mins), Dennehy (Sunderland) for Clarke (89 mins).
