Ireland finished the season with a tough loss to Portugal, who were excellent throughout the match.

Portugal's wide threats, Fernandes' presence in midfield, and the ruthless finishing of Ronaldo and Felix in the box were too much for Ireland.

This was a big reality check for the Irish side, who were coming off a high from beating Hungary.

RTÉ awarded the player of the match to Caoimhin Kelleher, which was fair as he was Ireland's best player, but it seemed like they were told to give it to an Irish player for parochial reasons.

It was a strange decision nonetheless.

This was the first time in a long while that Costa touched the ball in the Portuguese goal, which came from a cross by Canon linking well with Johnston, but Costa intercepted Johnston's cross back to Canon.

Sykes did well to hold onto possession and make his way into the box, but he went down under a heavy challenge that looked fair, and Sykes himself didn't appeal for a penalty.

Johnston almost sent Canon through with a well-weighted pass, but a late touch from the defender intervened.

That was the closest Ireland came to a chance since Canon's effort 20 minutes earlier.

Fernandes skipped past Cullen and shot from the edge of the box, with O'Brien getting a deflection that wrong-footed Kelleher, but the ball rolled wide instead of into the far corner.

Kelleher got caught by Ronaldo pressing inside the Ireland box, and they ended up in a tangle with Ronaldo appealing for a penalty, but the pleas fell on deaf ears.

Kelleher was very lucky not to gift a fourth goal away.

Seconds later, Ronaldo gingerly got to his feet and remained in an advanced position to hit a cross towards the goal first time, but the ball flew wide.

Fernandes let fly from outside the box with a good effort destined for the bottom corner, but Kelleher dived well to his right to turn it behind for a corner.

Portugal didn't let up, and Ronaldo went for the unselfish option, trying to square the ball to Jota after a counterattack, but Scales cleared it.

Semedo dispossessed Johnston and fired a shot that was blocked behind for a corner.

Ireland almost hit back immediately with Cannon getting in behind chasing a long ball.

His turn to beat the defender was brilliant, but his second touch made the chance difficult, and he could only find the side netting.

Jota picked out Ronaldo inside the box, whose first-time effort with his left foot was too good for Kelleher.

Portugal had three goals, and it was damage limitation for Ireland.

There was further trouble for Ireland when a foul from O'Brien was given as a free-kick, but VAR asked the referee to check if it was inside the box.

The decision was reversed for a foul on O'Brien by Jota, and a free-out was given.

Ireland responded to the goal with three changes, including an international debut for Tom Cannon, who entered the fray alongside Mikey Johnston.

Parrott and Idah departed, and Callum O'Dowda replaced Brady at left wing-back.

Ronaldo took the ball on the right edge of the box, cut in onto his left, and rifled the ball into the top corner.

Kelleher had no chance.

Scales gave Ronaldo half a yard inside the box, and that was all it took.

Portugal started and ended the half brilliantly, and they could have been more than a goal up if it wasn't for some wasteful finishing and a strong display from Kelleher in the Irish goal.

When Ireland allowed Portugal to break through the midfield, the forward axis of Felix and Ronaldo caused havoc, while Dalot was a big problem down the right-hand side.

Ireland had a 15-minute patch in the middle of the half where Smallbone and Idah linked well to lead to a couple of half-chances.

Portugal looked far more incisive and threatening, and it would be a big job just to keep the gap at one, let alone get anything from the game.

Idah nearly caught Pepe on the hop as he pressed high up the pitch, but the 41-year-old beat Idah to the bouncing ball.

Ignacio had a free header after a beautiful, curled cross from Fernandes but couldn't hit the target, heading the ball over the bar.

Ronaldo was furious after not getting a penalty when Brady bundled him over while trying to head clear.

The referee waved away their claims.

Portugal reacted to Ireland's purple patch by feeding Leao down the left.

He continued a stellar battle with Coleman, dancing onto his right foot to shoot, but the strike blazed high and wide.

Fernandes, waiting for a ball into the box, was furious with his winger.

Idah continued to cause problems, and Smallbone's through ball allowed Idah to square it across the box.

It was deflected back to him, and he shot into the side netting.

Ireland struggled to build into the game, with Portugal having 64% possession compared to Ireland's 36%.

Dalot caught Brady for pace, blistering past him as the ball came in over the top.

He fed Ronaldo, who found Fernandes, but his shot hit the side netting.

Brady's good corner came inches from O'Brien, who arguably should have made better contact to send the header goalwards.

Ronaldo's free-kick came off Idah's head and cannoned back off the post, giving Ireland a let-off.

Portugal caught Ireland napping with a short corner routine that teed up Felix on the edge of the box, and he curled the ball into the corner where Kelleher couldn't reach it.

Szmodics left Felix alone in the box, and the Irish defense switched off.

Ronaldo sent Dalot away down the right, and he fed Felix for a strike from the edge of the box.

Kelleher stuck a strong leg out to make a good save.

O'Brien and Cancelo had a coming together, with O'Brien getting away with a push and Cancelo tripping the Lyon man on his way down.

Portugal ran rampant, with Fernandes getting the ball in the box, rounding Kelleher, but Ireland's cover stopped him from feeding Ronaldo for an open goal.

Ronaldo had the ball in the back of the net after a long ball forward, but the offside flag was up.

Cancelo and Leao combined down the right to tee up Felix just outside the box, but his powerful strike was blocked.

Portugal broke through the middle of Ireland's midfield too easily, and Fernandes tried to feed Ronaldo in the box, but Kelleher was alert to the danger.

Coleman defended brilliantly against Leao, who tried to get on the outside but brought Coleman down, leading to a free-kick for Ireland.

Dalot went in late on Szmodics, who needed treatment.

Ireland kicked off in their away white strip, while Portugal wore their traditional red shirts with green shorts.

The temperature dipped to 21 degrees, with a shaded pitch and a nice breeze.

Portugal's team included Ronaldo, Pepe, Fernandes, Cancelo, and Felix, with Silva on the bench.

Ireland made three changes from the side that beat Hungary, with O'Brien making his first start.

Unfortunately, Ireland's defenders didn't follow Ronaldo closely enough during their last visit to Portugal, leading to a late Ronaldo double that made him the highest scorer in international football history.

John O'Shea was delighted to earn his first win as an international manager, and he looked to change the FAI's mind about taking his candidacy for the permanent job more seriously.

Wins were the best currency, and this would be his final game as interim manager before someone else took over ahead of the next game against England in September.

Ireland aimed to follow up their win against Hungary with back-to-back wins.