Ten-man Shelbourne fell to their second defeat of the UEFA Conference League group stages losing to a deflected 57th-minute goal from Alamir Ajzeraj after losing defender James Norris to a straight red card after the quarter hour mark.
Norris lost control of the ball and lunged at Ajzeraj on the halfway line leaving the Kosovan player rolling around on the ground clutching his ankle.
[**FULL MATCH DETAILS**](https://www.rte.ie/sport/results/soccer/conference-league/28191/report-4948070/)
The referee was alerted by VAR to the challenge and having viewed the monitor at the side of the pitch, Italian referee Oliver Reitala dismissed Norris in the 16th minute.
Drita had sat back early in the game trying to hit Shels on the break and had an early chance when Vesel Limaj fired his shot from outside the area straight at goalkeeper Wessel Speel.
But Shels grew into the game with Milan Mbeng causing problems down the right and in the 14th minute, Harry Woods' shot was blocked away for a corner which Drita keeper Falon Maloku missed and was fortunate to see the ball headed off the line byteam-mate Jorgo Pellumbi.
Shels though suffered a huge blow in the 16th minute as Norris was sent off for the lunging challenge. Their problems continued as Daniel Kelly then limped off four minutes later to be replaced by Kameron Ledwidge and the game was then halted momentarily as a supporter in the North Stand was attended to by paramedics.
James Norris is given his marching orders at Tallaght Stadium
The 10 men missed a glorious chance to take the lead with just over 10 minutes to play in the first half when Kian McInroy played a long ball towards Mipo Odubeko.
As the two retreating Drita centre halves fell over each other, the ball bounced kindly for the Shels striker, but with the keeper stranded and an empty net beckoning, Odubeko rolled his side foot effort wide.
It was one of the misses of the season, with the striker standing motionless in the aftermath.
Drita failed to make good of their numerical advantage and it was the League of Ireland side that went closest again before the interval with a free-kick 30 yards from goal.
Just before the break though, the Kosovan side forced their way into the game as Speel had to be alert to save a Pellumbi low shot at his near post and in added time Drita captain Rron Broja saw his header from a corner clip the bar to keep the game scoreless after seven minutes of added time.
Shels replaced captain Mark Coyle at half time with Lewis Temple and they came close to the breakthrough when a Wood corner was almost turned into his own net by Pellumbi.
The Reds resistance though was finally broken in the 57th minute as Alzeraj, 25 yards from goal, saw his shot deflects off a couple of Shels defenders before dribbling into the net with Speel rooted to the spot.
Drita should have doubled the advantage shortly after when a totally unmarked Albert Dabiqaj saw his header smothered on the line by Speel, while at the other end sub-John Martin, with his first touch, put a header over the bar from a Ledwidge cross.
Shels made a double substitution with just over 10 minutes remaining bringing on Evan Caffrey and Ali Coote, with the former Caffrey immediately drawing a double save from Falon Maloku.
Fellow substitute John Martin went close after being set up by Mbang as Joey O’Brien’s side desperately sought the equaliser that never arrived.
Shelbourne now travel to the Netherlands to face AZ Alkmaar later this month in their fourth outing of the group stages, still searching for their first victory.
**Shelbourne:** Wessel Speel; Milan Mbeng, Paddy Barrett, Mark Coyle © (Lewis Temple 45), James Norris Daniel Kelly (Kameron Ledwidge 20); Jack Henry Francis (Evan Caffrey 78), Kian McInroy, JJ Lunney (John Martin 63), Harry Wood (Ali Coote 78), Ademipo Odubeko.
**FC Drita:** Falon Maloku; Egzon Bejtual, Jorgo Pellumbi, Blerton Shelji; Besnik Krasniqi, Manadou Soumahoro (Kristal Abazaj 71), Rron Broja © (Illor Mustafa 81) Vesel Limaj, Raddy Ovouka; Albert Dabiqaj, Alamir Ajzeraj (Mike Arthur 92)
**Referee:** Oliver Reitala (Italy)