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Tonight's loss was Ireland's six defeat of the campaign. Donall Farmer/INPHO

Ireland U21s finish their European Championship qualifying campaign with another defeat

Serbia beat the Boys in Green 3-1 in Waterford.

Ireland U21 1

Serbia U21 3

Serbia came back from a goal down to inflict a sixth European Championship qualifying defeat on Ireland, to complete a miserable campaign for the Boys in Green.

Goals from Nemanja Mihajloviฤ‡, Mijat Gaฤinoviฤ‡ and Saลกa Lukiฤ‡ earned the visitors all three points in Waterford after Evertonโ€™s Courtney Duffus gave Ireland the lead.

Courtney Duffus celebrates scoring the first goal of the game with Jack Byrne Jack Byrne celebrating with Ireland's goalscorer. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Anderlecht goalkeeper Liam Bossin also saved a penalty from Uroลก Djurdjeviฤ‡ to maintain Irelandโ€™s advantage after Celtic defender Eoghan Oโ€™Connell committed a foul in the box, though the hosts can have little complaints over the result.

Two goals in the space of three minutes, firstly from Mihajloviฤ‡ then Gaฤinoviฤ‡ midway through the second-half, turned the game on its head before Lukiฤ‡ sealed all three points in the closing stages.

Noel Kingโ€™s side finish the campaign in fourth position with just four wins from their 10 qualifiers, which included two wins over Andorra and home victories against Lithuania and Slovenia.

IRELAND: Bossin; Oโ€™Connell, Hoban (C), Lenihan, Oโ€™Connor; Cullen, Browne, J. Byrne (Mulraney 71โ€ฒ); Shodipo (Kavanagh 79โ€ฒ), Duffus (Maguire 72โ€ฒ), Charley.

Subs not used: Grimes, Hoare, Kinsella, Dimaio.

SERBIA: V. Milinkoviฤ‡, Saviฤ‡; Gajiฤ‡, Laziฤ‡, Veljkoviฤ‡, Ristiฤ‡; A.ลฝivkoviฤ‡, Lukiฤ‡ (V. Jovanoviฤ‡ 89โ€ฒ), Grujiฤ‡, Gaฤinoviฤ‡; ฤŒavriฤ‡ (Mihajloviฤ‡ 59โ€ฒ), Djurdjeviฤ‡(C) (Oลพegoviฤ‡ 78โ€ฒ).

Subs not used: Radunoviฤ‡, Maraลก, Filipoviฤ‡, Plavลกiฤ‡.

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    Mute Vincent Foley
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    Oct 7th 2016, 7:57 PM

    Letโ€™s face it, itโ€™s been dreadful for yearsโ€ฆfrom Givens to King. Awful. And I guess there is little chance Kerr will be given the role with John the Baptist in charge

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    Mute James O'Donoghue
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    Oct 7th 2016, 7:58 PM

    Shock horror. High time the second coming of Don Givens was moved on. An ideal role for Brian Kerr.

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    Mute Gerry with a J
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    Oct 7th 2016, 8:11 PM

    Jesus Christ how is that man still in charge. Would love to see Kerr take over

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    Mute Nic Antonio
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    Oct 7th 2016, 9:02 PM

    Because heโ€™s an FAI boy

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    Mute Cathal Sheehan
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    Oct 7th 2016, 8:40 PM

    How about hiring a coach who has a clue what heโ€™s doing.

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    Mute Shane O Reilly
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    Oct 7th 2016, 8:36 PM

    People throwing around fixture congestion as a valid excuse for Horgan not being called up for the seniors. Yet Maguire and O Connor playing tonight and a game tomorrow as well as tonight and this Ireland team were out regardless.

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    Mute Padraig
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    Oct 7th 2016, 8:19 PM

    If not Kerr,Damien Duff would be a good choice.

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    Mute Robbie #23
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    Oct 8th 2016, 8:56 AM

    How the F##k is Noel king still in charge of them? Itโ€™s time for massive changes in Irish football starting at grassroots.

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