SEVEN-TIMES winners Shelbourne have been reinstated in this season’s Ford-sponsored FAI Cup by the association’s appeals panel and will now face Limerick in a yet-to-be scheduled game for a place in the semi-finals.

The panel, which was considering both an appeal by Sheriff YC against their expulsion from the competition after playing John Lester when he was ineligible for their dramatic win over Shelbourne on August 26th and an appeal by the first division side against an initial decision not to reinstate them after Sheriff had been expelled, came out against the non-league side on this occasion but decided there were no proper grounds for not giving Alan Mathews’ side a place in the last eight.

Barring the association being hauled into arbitration in relation to the affair, Shelbourne will take on Limerick, whose manager Pat Scully yesterday signed a two-year contract extension, for a place in the semis with the draw for that stage of the competition taking place on Monday week.

The first two of the already scheduled quarters take place tomorrow at Turner’s Cross (Cork City v St Patrick’s Athletic) and Oriel Park (Dundalk v Bohemians), with Sligo Rovers taking on Shamrock Rovers in the third at the Showgrounds on Monday night.