Republic of Ireland 2 Albania 1
Phase one of a two step plan accomplished - but only just. Goals from Robbie Keane and a stoppage time own goal from Albanian defender Ardian Aliaj secured three crucial points for the Group 10 cause, but Brian Kerr knows he has yet to reach the crux of this crucial double header: refocusing his team on Georgia in four days time.
A dark cloud already hangs over the preparations for the game. Damien Duff's availability is uncertain after the influential playmaker limped off in the dying minutes with a suspected reoccurrence of his old hamstring injury.
Yesterday, Kerr spoke of how goals, any goals no matter how they were scored, would suffice to get the ball rolling in what is a crucial five day period for the Green Army. However, the manager will be duly concerned with the lapse in concentration that allowed Ervin Skela equalise two minutes after Robbie Keane's sixth minute strike.
His concerns will also rest with how, after dominating the opening minutes with such gusto and aplomb, Albania were then allowed dictate the pace of the game and force Ireland, for lengthy periods at least, on to the back foot. It really did have the feeling of an end-of-season warm down.
It took the arrival of Gary Doherty midway through the second half to alter the dynamics of Ireland's play as the impressive centre half Geri Cipi had made light work of Wimbledon forward David Connolly whom the Tottenham man replaced.
Doherty's presence up front unsettled Cipi and Elvin Beqiri - just as the formidable Igli Tare tortured Kenny Cunningham in the opening half - and the 23 year-old's cameo proved the catalyst for Ireland's sudden leap to second in the Group 10 table.
Driven along by the raucous home support, Ireland started enthusiastically with Duff and Keane, in particular, showing initiative going forward. Duff was again playing in the 'hole' following the successful 4-3-1-2 strategy deployed against Norway. The Blackburn winger wasted no time in tormenting Albanian wing backs Klodian Duro and Edwin Murat and from his free six minutes in, when fouled on the left by Duro, Ireland opened the scoring.
Duff's effort was headed clear but Stephen Carr, showing well throughout, was quick onto the ball and played it back in over the top for Keane to poke past Foto Strakosha after evading the laboured challenges of two defenders.
However, straight from the tip-off Albania hit back. Altin Raklli outfoxed John O'Shea down the near flank and found himself in acres of space. Looking up, he checked a ball back to Skela, arriving into the box unaccompanied, and the Frankfurt star made no mistake, dinking the ball past the onrushing Shay Given.
Hans-Pieter Briegel, the former German World Cup winner, has impressed an fluent style on his Albanian squad and with neat passing from the back and sharp attacking down the flanks, the visitors had Kerr and his management team scratching their heads for answers.
Inside, the three man midfield of Altin Lala, Besnik Hasi and goalscorer Skela proved more than a match for Mark Kinsella and Matt Holland and bossed affairs for much of the first period. While Holland slowly edged his way into the contest with a number of bruising, but crucial, challenges, Kinsella found himself at sea and his booking four minutes before the break undoubtedly played a part in his substitution early in the second period.
Shouts for an Ireland penalty were turned down in the 25th minute when Keane's curling shot from the edge of the box was deflected, one handed, by 'keeper Foto Strakosha onto Ardian Aliaj but Polish referee Tomasz Mikulski was unimpressed.
A renewed Ireland effort in the closing stages of the half saw David Connolly's diving header go well over and a bizarre corner from Duff cannon back off the far post unassisted.
Despite Albania's enthusiasm to test their hosts, Kerr resisted change at the break although Lee Carsley's introduction for Kinsella 10 minutes into the second period shored up a porous midfield.
Keane should have bagged his second six minutes in having collected a glorious Carr ball on the left but his path through the Albania defence was snuffed out again by the outstanding Cipi.
Doherty's introduction midway through the half proved a telling turning point in Ireland's fortunes. His ability to compete in the air with the Albanian defence turned the game in Ireland's favour as both Keane and Duff eagerly fed off his clever knock downs.
From one such move, with 15 minutes to play, Keane capitalised on his clubmates awareness and snaked his way into the visitor's danger area but again his effort was foiled by Cipi. An innocuous collision moments later, between Doherty and 'keeper Strakosha, saw the latter stretchered off following five minutes of treatment.
The home support booed the Albanina net minder for time delaying but those five minutes proved crucial in the end as Ireland were kept at bay for the remaining minutes of normal time although Duff's deft flick - following excellent work from substitute Steven Reid and Keane- looked to be on its way home before trickling agonisingly wide.
Cue injury time. Cue the fifth minute of injury time. Cue hysteria. Stephen Carr, who this time mastered Edvin Murati following a troubling 90 minutes against him in Tirana, played a deep, searching ball to the back post. Doherty pulled off his marker and, showing a touch untypical of a man his size, gently brought it under control. Turning goalwards the Spurs man took another touch before scuffing a left foot shot across the face of the goal, only for the unfortunate Aliaj to direct it into his own net.
Lansdowne Road, along with the rest of us, breathed a sigh of relief as yet another 'get out of jail card' came up trumps thanks to the defender-cum-striker.