Eircom League Cup review

Pat Fenlon's Premier League leaders Shelbourne survived a late comeback from St Patrick’s Athletic to win their opening Group 7 game in the Eircom League Cup tonight.

Premier League leaders Shelbourne survived a late comeback from St Patrick’s Athletic to win their opening Group 7 game in the eircom League Cup tonight.

The match appeared to be going to form when the hosts raced into a 3-0 lead thanks to a David Crawley penalty and further strikes from Ger McCarthy and Gerard Rowe.

Con Blastis pulled one back with 20 minutes to go, however, and Shelbourne were made to suffer a tense few minutes when Jimmy Lee-Jones reduced the arrears further with time running out.

Waterford United, currently second in the eircom Premier League, had to rely on an 83rd-minute equaliser from David Breen to salvage a 2-2 draw at Limerick in Group 2.

Colin O’Brien netted twice for Limerick, either side of a Vinnie Sullivan effort.

Cork City came from behind to win 2-1 at Cobh Ramblers in Group 1.

Darren Murphy gave Cobh the lead on the stroke of half-time but a John O’Flynn penalty and a Denis Behan goal gave Cork their second successive win in the competition.

Sean Prunty netted a late winner to give Longford Town maximum points from their Group 3 game with Kildare County at Flancare Park.

Barry Ferguson headed Longford in front after just two minutes from Philip Keogh’s right wing cross but Barry O’Connor equalised for the visitors just before the break.

Prunty drilled home the winner with seven minutes to go.

Monaghan United, bottom of the first division, produced the shock of the night by beating Premier League Derry City 1-0.

Derry were not helped by the dismissals of Kevin Deery and Michael Holt as they went down to Eoghan O’Meara’s 19th-minute strike.

The hosts also had Shane Brennan sent off in a bad tempered Group 4 clash.

Mayo League and Galway United fought out a 1-1 draw in Group 5.

Ryan Casey gave Galway an early lead but James Scott levelled midway through the first half.