Shelbourne bounced back from their league defeat to Derry by advancing to the semi-finals of the eircom League Cup with a 2-1 win over St Patrick's Athletic at Tolka Park tonight.
Goals from Glen Crowe and Jason Byrne gave the hosts a comfortable lead over their city rivals by the half-time break.
Crowe opened Shelbourne's account as early as the ninth minute when he took advantage of hesitancy in the Pat's defence to send a shot, that took a wicked deflection off Darragh Maguire, looping over 'keeper Barry Ryan and into the net.
Byrne extended his side's lead in the 27th minute when his shot from 20 yards found the top corner of Ryan's net at the Drumcondra end of the ground.
One of the most pleasing aspects from a Shelbourne perspective is that both Crowe and Byrne seem to have rediscovered their scoring touch after they both had barren periods during Shels' recent slump.
The reigning league champions managed to defend their lead successfully until the 83rd minute when Robbie Doyle slotted a shot past Dean Delaney after the home defence were caught napping by a long ball.
However, Pat Fenlon's charges showed some resilience, so often lacking this season, to close out the game and book their place in the last four.
