Two early second-half strikes from Denmark saw Ireland beaten 2-1 in Pinatar, Spain in the first of two friendlies between the teams this week.

Ireland led early on when the Shamrock Rovers duo of Goodness Ogbonna and Brody Lee combined brilliantly to set up Vancouver FC starlet Grady McDonnell to open the scoring. .

Soren Hermansen’s side responded well to the set back and almost equalised with a quarter of an hour gone but Wexford teenager now at Venezia FC, Oisin McDonagh blocked bravely.

The game ebbed and flowed nicely with both sides creative dangerous situations and half chances but as he half drew to a close it was the Danish side who enjoyed the lion's share of possession, and to their immense credit in the heat Alex Noonan and his solid rearguard stood firm to restrict the Danish side to any clear sight at goal.

The Danes came flying out of the traps after the break and took just two minutes to get themselves back on level terms. Mark Ian Frokjaer Steffensen making no mistake in equalising.

Six minutes after the equaliser Ireland fell 2-1 behind to an expertly taken finish by Jacob Brochner Ambaek, who rounded Noonan and finished well from the narrowest of angles.

Looking to get over the shock, Ireland showed a lot of character and responded well to haul themselves back into the game. On the hour mark, the in-form O’Donnell, was desperately unlucky to see his powerful strike from the edge of the area sail over as momentum built.

With just over 20-minutes remaining the Irish boss, O’Brien, opted for a triple substitution to inject some energy into proceedings. UD Almeria’s Ramon Martos looked sharp as the young Boys in Green looked to set up a grandstand finish.

Much like their under-19 counterparts earlier in the day, time unfortunately got the better of the Irish stars of the future as they pushed relentlessly for the all important equaliser but failed to put the finishing touches to promising moves.

Full focus will now turn to recovery and rehydration as both sides look forward to going to battle again on Sunday, KO 10.00am (Irish time)

Denmark: Andreas Orskov Sondenbroe, Ali Al-Najar, Jacob Brochner Ambaek, Sander Ragnar Larsen, Mark Ian Frokjaer Steffensen, Villads Rutkjaer, William Sulejamani Faber, Lucas Bryde Bolvinkel, William Lokke Moller, Johan Juvstad Hvistendahl, Malthe Egebaek Mortensen

Ireland: Alex Noonan, Billy Canny, Ade Solanke, Oisin McDonagh, Finn Sherlock, Oskar Skoubo Keely (Ramon Martos, 68’) Billy O’Neill (Luke Chukwu, 68’) Goodness Ogbonna (Kian McMahon Brown, 68’) Grady McDonnell, Brody Lee, Michael Noonan