League Cup quarter-finals/Shelbourne - 2 St Patrick's Athletic - 1: Shelbourne are through to the League Cup semi-finals after a convincing 2-1 victory over St Patrick's Athletic at Tolka Park last night.

Striking pair Glen Crowe and Jason Byrne grabbed the two goals early in the first half, and only a late Robbie Doyle goal threatened to stop an easy passage.

Shelbourne always looked the more potent in attack as St Patrick's, despite having plenty of possession, rarely threatened Dean Delaney's goal.

The home side, by contrast, were a constant menace with Crowe going close early on with a long-range effort.

Crowe opened the scoring in the ninth minute when his close- range shot took a wicked deflection off Darragh Maguire and looped over Barry Ryan and into the net.

Byrne made it 2-0 in the 27th minute when he curled the ball home from the edge of the area after his initial shot came back off Paul Donnelly.

Shelbourne continued to push for a third with Ryan turning around Byrne's long range free kick before half-time.

St Patrick's scored seven minutes from the end when Doyle fired home after a long ball had caught out the home side's defence.

SHELBOURNE: Delaney; Heary, Rogers, Crawley, Cahill; Baker, S Byrne, Ndo (Ryan 77 mins), Hoolahan; Crowe (O'Neill 80 mins), J Byrne (Fitzpatrick 68 mins).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan; Quigley, Maguire, C Foley, Bell; Dunne (Prenderville 70 mins), Fahey (Flood ht), Caffrey (Maher 77 mins), Donnelly, M Foley; Doyle.

Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).