Jeffrey and Fenlon both hit out

NI's Albert Watson heads the ball away from Mark Quigley

Managers David Jeffrey and Pat Fenlon both expressed anger after the Republic of Ireland's 1-0 win in Tuesday's International Trophy Under-23 game.

Republic manager Fenlon lambasted the Mourneview Park pitch while the performance of the match officials angered Northern Ireland boss Jeffrey.

"The pitch was disgraceful," Fenlon told BBC Sport.

Jeffrey was infuriated by the awarding of a free-kick for the Republic which led to Stephen Rice's late winner.

"We're not looking for anyone to favour us but no-one can tell me that it was a free-kick from which we conceded the goal," said Jeffrey.

"What frustrates me is that at times, we don't get the rub of the green and we went to Belgium and had a pretty dubious penalty given against us.

"We are not looking for advantage or for anyone to be biased in any way but I'm absolutely gutted because those players tonight were phenomenal.

"I don't mind getting in bother. If I get in trouble for telling the truth then I'm sorry."

Fenlon didn't hold back in his description of the bumpy Mourneview Park surface.

"To play an international match on that pitch was outrageous.

"Northern Ireland have good players too and they would have wished for a better surface than that."

A further embarrassment for the match organisers was that the start of the game was delayed for nearly 25 minutes in an argument over the colour of socks.

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni was among those who watched the match.