World Youth Cup: It would have been a perfect night - after all, Ireland finished top of a ferociously competitive group after beating Mexico 2-0 here last night - but manager Gerry Smith wore a hang-dog expression after the game, and he blamed Brazilian referee Wilson Souza for his mixed emotions.

"We're missing three players from the next game, that's the disappointing feature of tonight. I know referees have difficult games, but that wasn't a dirty game and some of the cards were . . . I don't know, it's hard to explain."

The victory had come at a price: midfielders Darren Potter and Glenn Whelan and defender Stephen Kelly will all miss the game through suspension.

The influential Potter received a straight red after an incident with Mexico's Jesus Palacios, who was also sent off, and Whelan and Kelly received their second yellow cards of the tournament, both for making a tackle from behind.

Defender Stephen Paisley headed in the first goal from a Willo Flood free-kick in the 32nd minute, while Kelly battled on after his booking to score the second in the 85th minute in a scramble with the goalkeeper Jose Martinez.

"Three players are out, so we have to regroup," Smith said. "At one stage we were wondering if we'd have enough players, from both teams, to finish the match. That's disappointing, because the game and the World Cup is definitely not about that."

Are any of the cards worth appealing?

"No point. I really can't say what I want to say. Paddy McCarthy's yellow card, for example? You'll have to ask the fella in the middle what that was for, but I doubt he knows either."

Darren Potter's red card? What was your view?

"I don't mean to be rude, but don't ask me silly questions. He shouldn't have been sent off. You use your discretion, the players are a little bit hyped up, but there was hardly a bad tackle at that stage."

Smith then brightened up.

"But from our point of view we did great, that was a very good Mexican team. We were super, tremendous to a man. They worked their backsides off for Ireland tonight and we're really, really proud of them."

"Okay, let's cheer up. At this time yesterday I'd have bought all this, we're into the second round, they're the positives. I just feel so disappointed for the three players. It's going to take a big effort to beat Colombia, so that's what we'll focus on now."