Glentoran 1 St Patrick's Ath 0:ST PATRICK'S Athletic suffered a second cup blow in less than a week when their Uefa Cup woes were compounded by an exit from the Setanta Sports Cup in Belfast last night.

Last night's shock win at The Oval granted the Belfast club a semi-final showdown with defending holders Drogheda United next week.

Victory came courtesy of Darryl Fordyce's first-half goal and sealed a first-ever progress beyond the group stage for the team managed by former Northern Ireland international Alan McDonald.

Former Portsmouth player Fordyce put the tenacious Glens in front from a sixth minute corner after goalkeeper Barry Ryan had thwarted David Scullion's powerful header from close-range.

But Ryan got lost in a goalmouth muddle with Grant Gardiner's corner kick causing havoc and Fordyce nodded the ball into the gaping St Pat's net.

In response, Keith Fahey forced Glens keeper Elliot Morris to make a smart save and moments later Mark Quigley hit the side-netting. In the 34th minute Fordyce eluded the visitors' defence but his tame shot failed to trouble Ryan.

After the break Michael Halliday wasted a great opening and an instant response from St Pat's saw Glen Fitzpatrick slice wide at the other end. Glentoran though lived dangerously in a jittery second-half as Gary Dempsey and Jamie Harris both went close to an equaliser. Glentoran's Shane McCabe and St Pat's Fahey were sent-off for separate incidents in a thrilling finale.

GLENTORAN:Morris, Nixon (McGovern 55), Leeman, Ward, Hill, Gardiner (McMenimen 74), McCabe, Fordyce, Scullion (Waterworth 79), Hamilton, Halliday. Subs: Jms Taylor (GK), Waterworth, Berry, Boyce, McMenamin, McGovern, Jonny Taylor. Booked: McCabe 75 Sent-off: McCabe 88.

ST PAT'S ATHLETIC:Ryan, Byrne, Lynch, Fahey, Quigley, Fitzpatrick, Harris, Dempsey, Guy, OBrien (Brennan, 62), Rogers. Subs: Friesz, Bialek, OCearuill, Kirby, Haverty, Brennan. Sent-off: Fahey 90+4.

Referee:Brian Turkington (Belfast)