UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP/Albania v Ireland: The Republic of Ireland under-21s wasted a good chance to record their first win in the European Championship qualifying campaign as they dominated against Albania but conceded a breakaway goal to slump to their third defeat in four matches.
Graham Barrett looked lively on his record-equalling 20th appearance and he set up Liam Miller for Ireland's best chance after 29 minutes, but the Celtic man's finish was disappointing - although he nearly redeemed himself when he struck a late free-kick against a post.
The goal came in the 71st minutes when substitute Erion Rizvanolli was first to a long through ball and chipped it over the advancing Graham Stack and into an empty net.
Don Givens made three changes - two of them enforced - to the team which drew 1-1 in Georgia on Friday.
The Irish boss lost Manchester United defender Paul Tierney with a knee injury and Nottingham Forest midfielder Andy Reid through suspension for the clash with Albania in the Selman Stermasi Stadium.
The game flared into life in the third minute when skipper Jim Goodwin made a strong challenge on Oerd Kotja which the referee deemed to be a free-kick 20 yards from goal.
Albania captain Ervin Bulku curled the ball around the defensive wall but straight into the arms of Stack. Ireland immediately won a corner which saw Jon Daly stretching to send a header just over.
Albania were not as dominant as Georgia, and the Irish carved out a couple of good chances.
After 24 minutes Arsenal's Barrett - on loan at Brighton - hit a low drive from just outside the box and goalkeeper Erion Dine watched it well as he got his body behind it and made the save.
Ireland then missed a great chance five minutes later to take the lead. Barrett did well down the left and delivered a low cross for Miller, but the Celtic man mishit his shot wide from eight yards. Albania won another free-kick, this time 30 yards from goal, and Bulku was a little ambitious as he went for goal and drove the ball into the wall.
In the 74 minute Sean Thornton floated in another free-kick which was cleared under pressure by Arian Sheta. Givens then brought on Noel Hunt two minutes later. Hunt nearly grabbed the equaliser but was denied by a fine save in injury time.
A further blow for the Irish was an injury to Sunderland midfielder Mark Rossiter, whose knee gave way after he landed awkwardly, having come off the bench for his first cap. Givens added: "It looks a bit serious at the moment and I am hoping it is not cruciate ligament damage, but we'll have to wait and see."
ALBANIA U21: Dine, Sheta, Teli, Bulko, Allmuca, Ndreka, Kotja, Belisha, Tetova, Boshnjaku, Mancaku. Subs: Osmani, Rizvanolli, Muzaka, Makaj, Kaci, Deljallisi, Kuli.
REP OF IRELAND U21: Stack, Brennan, Goodwin, Byrne, Thompson, Paisley, Miller, Thornton, Daly, O'Connor, Barrett. Subs: Hoolahan, Hunt, Melligan, Keane, Murphy, Ward, Rossiter.
