The Republic of Ireland stuttered to a European Championship qualifying win over a determined Albania side in Dublin on Tuesday evening.
Kevin Kilbane headed the first competitive goal at Lansdowne Road’s new Aviva Stadium, before Kevin Doyle added a second with a long-range stunner.
Christian Martinez shocked the Irish with a strike just prior to the interval, but Robbie Keane’s second-half effort wrapped up the points for his side.
Ireland put a shaky Andorran defence under pressure immediately, with Robbie Keane and Aiden McGeady threatening, and broke the deadlock after 14 minutes when Kevin Kilbane glanced Liam Lawrence’s in-swinging into the far corner.
Sergi Moreno caused Shay Given a minor problem with a shot from distance soon after the opener, but Andorra rarely had possession inside the hosts’ half during the first period.
Lawrence almost doubled the lead on the half hour, but found the side-netting after lifting the ball over goalkeeper Josep Anton Gomez, after McGeady’s cross across the box had reached the right-midfielder.
Ireland had been mediocre in possession, but did enough to find Kevin Doyle 25 yards out with five minutes to go to the break, allowing the striker to unleash a left-footed cracker, resulting in Ireland’s second goal of the night.
However, the hosts were shocked before the interval when Fernando Silva knocked the ball down for Christian Martinez to drive a rising shot past Given and into the top of the net.
Ireland restored their two-goal advantage nine minutes into the second period. Fine interplay led to McGeady feeding a ball to Keane, who applied a neat, clipped finish, although the Tottenham man appeared to have been offside.
The home side should have been awarded a penalty when Ildefons Lima hauled down Doyle, before a lengthy period of flatness in the game.
Doyle came close to adding Ireland’s fourth on 79 minutes, his drilled shot beating the far post, moments after Lawrence had fluffed a decent opportunity.
Despite creating further half-chances, Ireland failed to add to their advantage.
Nevertheless, the result ensured maximum points from two games for Giovanni Trapattoni and his men.