Albania (U-21) 1 Republic of Ireland (U-21 0
Ireland wasted a good chance to record a 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 Republic of Ireland 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.
Sunderland's Cliff Byrne - on loan at Scunthorpe - came into the defence and Brentford's Kevin O'Connor replaced Reid, while Givens left out Shelbourne striker Wes Hoolahan in favour of Graham Barrett, who dropped back down from the senior squad after Robbie Keane's arrival.
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.
The boys in green then missed a golden chance five minutes later to take the lead. Barrett did well down the left and delivered a low cross for Liam Miller, but the Celtic man mis-hit 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.
It was not easy to play football on the uneven surface, and the home side suffered a blow when their commanding centre-back Arian Sheta was hurt in a clash with Miller and had to be carried off for treatment after 40 minutes, although he did manage to return to the action before the break.
In fact, with a minute remaining it was Sheta who got forward to win a header from a corner, but Stephen Brennan was on the near-post goalline to shepherd the ball away.
The Irish made a change at the break as Paisley was replaced by Mark Rossiter, who won his first cap. Albania made a change after 56 minutes when Rizvanolli replaced Bledar Mancaku.
The Albanian substitute almost made a big impact on the hour as he chased a through ball, but Stack did just enough as he ran out of his area to deflect the ball away and Brennan completed the clearance.
The hosts made their second change after 63 minutes as Gjergj Muzaka replaced Denis Boshnjaku. The Maltese referee then handed out the first yellow card as Rizvanolli pulled back Miller after 65 minutes.
Belisha tried his luck from long range after 69 minutes, hoping to catch out Stack with a low drive on the poor pitch, but the goalkeeper watched it well and had the ball covered.
Despite having more possession, Ireland fell behind in the 71st minute when they were caught by a breakaway goal.
Belisha hit a long through ball and Rizvanolli nipped in behind the defence to meet it on the edge of the box. Stack came off his line but the Albanian striker lifted the ball over his head and into the net to send the home fans wild.
Albania made their final change when Kotja took a knock and was replaced by Bekim Kulli after 73 minutes.
A minute later Sunderland's Sean Thornton floated in another free-kick from the left and Sheta won the header to clear the ball over his own crossbar.
Givens played what he hoped would be his trump card, when Noel Hunt replaced O'Connor after 76 minutes.
It was Hunt who scored the late headed equaliser against Georgia, and Ireland were hoping for some more heroics from the Celtic winger. Miller almost redeemed his earlier miss when, with two minutes remaining, he curled a 20-yard free kick against a post.
Hunt was also denied by a fine save in injury time as it was not to be for Ireland, who slumped to their third defeat in four matches.
PA