Giovanni Trapattoni tasted defeat for the first time as Republic of Ireland boss despite a remarkable late fightback against Poland.

Leo Beenhakker's Poland side looked to be heading for a comfortable victory at Croke Park when substitute Roger Guerreiro added a 47th-minute second goal to skipper Mariusz Lewandowski's early opener.

But having earlier seen midfielder Damien Duff pass up three glorious opportunities, Ireland belatedly discovered their touch in front of goal to set up a tense finish.

Substitute Stephen Hunt reduced the deficit with an 88th-minute penalty, and after Robert Lewandowski had restored his side's two-goal advantage, fellow newcomer Keith Andrews marked his senior international debut with an injury-time strike.

Despite a rousing finish, however, Trapattoni's men were left in little doubt as to the task ahead of them when they return to action in the new year.

Afterwards goalkeeper Shay Given admitted the Republic of Ireland were their own worst enemies after conceding goals at the start of each half.

"It was a hectic finale to the game but I think we gave away disappointing goals," Given told Sky Sports.

"We had the worst possible start to both halves, being 1-0 down after a couple of minutes is not the best.

"We really dug deep but we are obviously disappointed.

"After they scored early in the game I thought we were the better team in the first half.

"They got lucky breaks for the second and third goals but they are a good side and they took their chances well.

"On another day we would have got an equaliser at the death."

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