Shelbourne, last season's beaten finalists, all but booked their path through to the League Cup quarter-finals, though they needed a late goal from Pat Fenlon to see off the hardworking challenge of Home Farm/Everton at Whitehall last night.

Playing the first of three matches in four days, Shelbourne only gradually got into their stride and didn't force a save from Paul Whelan in the Home Farm goal until the 40th minute when the former youth international palmed away a dipping shot from Fenlon.

Whelan was again called on to make a good save from a 40-yard drive from Mick Neville in the 50th minute as Home Farm were coming under considerable pressure. It finally told in the 70th minute when Fenlon got on the end of Declan Geoghegan's cross from the left to score with a close range diving header.

In a more exciting Group E match at Tolka Park, Shamrock Rovers beat St Francis 3-2. Goals from Richie Purdy and Derek Tracey appeared to have Rovers well in command. St Francis pulled a goal back when Ciaran Duffy scored with a 40-yard lob a minute before the interval.

But Tony Cousins all but sealed Rovers win when making it 3-1 on 53 minutes before Peter White got a late consolation for St Francis. Cork City beat Cobh Ramblers 20 at St Colman's Park to also virtually seal their quarter-final place from Group A.

Cork went ahead with a penalty converted by Kelvin Flanagan. Mark Herrick then notched his first goal since returning from injury with a deflected shot four minutes from the end.

Also in Group A, Kilkenny City played out an absorbing 2-2 draw with Waterford United, who had defender Sean Riordan sent off for a second-bookable offence, at Buckley Park.

Paul Cashin and Colin Delahunty gave Kilkenny a 2-0 lead. That was reduced through Robert Griffin and John Power equalised from a 62nd minute penalty.

An Ollie Keogh equaliser on 74 minutes earned non-league Mervue United another creditable 1-1 draw from their Group C match at Terryland Park. Galway United had led from a 56th minute debut goal by 17-year old David Goldbey.

Drogheda maintained pole position in Group D after they did more than enough to beat Dundalk at United Park, though they had to be content with a 0-0 draw.