Shelbourne needed a late Pat Scully goal to beat St Francis 1-0 at Tolka Park in their Group E League Cup tie yesterday. Central-defender Scully initially headed against a post from Pat Fenlon's corner but remained well positioned to head home the rebound with just four minutes remaining.

Having already beaten Home Farm/Everton, yesterday's win means Shelbourne need a point from their final game with Shamrock Rovers to win the group and may already have done enough to qualify. Cork City got off to the perfect start in Group A with a convincing 3-0 home win over Kilkenny City who had veteran left-back Martin Reid sent-off four minutes into the second-half for a second bad challenge on Colin O'Brien inside as many minutes.

Cork benefited from their numerical advantage within two minutes when Mark Herrick set up Ollie Cahill who shot past Ashley Stephenson for the opening goal.

John Cotter got Cork's second goal when heading home an O'Brien cross after 73 minutes before Dave Hill got Cork's third five minutes from time when also scoring with a header from a Declan Daly centre.

Derry City were left to rue a host of missed chances as Ulster Senior League side Fanad United stole a point with a last minute penalty equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Traigh-A-Locha in the north-west Group B.

Former Derry player Martin McGinley slotted home the spot kick after Ryan Coyle had handled inside the box. Coyle had put a totally dominant Derry in front in the 20th minute.

John Martin played the role of super-sub to perfection at Belfield as he came off the bench 27 minutes from time to salvage a point for UCD against Bohemians in Group F.

Bohemians seemed to be cruising at 2-0 with goals from Tommy Byrne, after 42 minutes, and Eoin Mullen, five minutes into the second-half. But a missed penalty by Donal Broughan, who shot wide, after Aidan Lynch had pulled down Derek Swan, in the 66th minute inspired UCD's comeback.

Martin set up skipper Mick O'Byrne who pulled a goal back on 75 minutes and then scored with a spectacular diving header to equalise from O'Byrne's cross with three minutes remaining.

Finn Harps needed a late equaliser from Marty McCann to earn a point in a 2-2 draw with 10-man Sligo Rovers in a Group B match at Ballybofey on Saturday night.

Sligo defender Matt Daly was sent-off after only 14 minutes leaving his side facing an uphill struggle. Harps then went ahead from a Stephen Kelly penalty after a foul on Jonathan Speak five minutes before the break.

But Sligo battled back into the game and stormed into a 77th minute lead after two goals from Padraig Moran before McCann's late strike rescued a point for Harps.

Ger Constable scored his first goal for Limerick as they beat the suspension hit holders of the competition, Galway United, at Terryland Park.