Shelbourne - 1 UCD - 2: Shelbourne's season descended into farce as they blew an 86th-minute lead to concede two late, late goals and bow out of the League Cup in the most dramatic way possible at a stunned Tolka Park last night.
Colin Hawkins finally put a dominant Shelbourne ahead for what looked the winner with just four minutes of normal time remaining.
Glen Crowe missed a sitter as his header from David Crawley's deep cross came back off a post, but relief was immediate as defender Hawkins scooped home the rebound.
But UCD, who hadn't had a shot on target prior to that, levelled right on 90 minutes as Shelbourne's season-long defensive frailties cost them again.
Substitute Anthony Murphy put Brian Gannon in behind a static home defence and the winger lobbed Steve Williams in goal.
Then, three minutes into stoppage time a dreadful mistake by, of all people, Owen Heary would cost his side the match.
The Shelbourne captain's back-pass ran straight to College substitute Robbie Martin who rounded Williams, who sportingly decided against taking the striker down, and literally walked the ball into the net.
Despite a half dozen good openings, Shelbourne never really tested Darren Quigley in the UCD goal in a one-sided first half.
The chances continued to be created into the second half and Jason Byrne was guilty of a glaring miss on 53 minutes, blazing over the bar from David Crawley's corner.
Crawley's influence from set-pieces was there again minutes later when his superb diagonal delivery was met by Heary whose header was narrowly wide.
Shelbourne, already out of the FAI Cup and 14 points behind league leaders Cork City in third place in the league, now look virtually certain to finish the season without a trophy, something inconceivable at the start of the season.
As if to rub salt into their wounds, the champions won't even have the consolation of a shot at making the Setanta Cup after it was announced earlier in the day that the League Cup winners will enter the extended cross-boarder competition next season.
UCD have that incentive and they'll now meet the winner's of tonight's second semi-final at the Brandywell between Derry City and holders Longford Town.
SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Hawkins, Rogers, Crawley; Ryan, S. Byrne (Moore, 74 mins.), Reynolds, Cahill; J. Byrne (Fitzpatrick, 74 mins.), Crowe.
UCD: Quigley; Mahon, McNally, Shortall (Anthony Murphy, 88 mins.), O'Donnell; Gannon, Dicker, McDonnell, McWalter; Dupuy (Martin, 66 mins.), Harte (McEneff, 66mins.).
Referee: D Hanney (Dublin).
