St Patrick's Athletic 1 Shelbourne 2: A Glen Fitzpatrick double ensured Shelbourne victory at Richmond Park last night, in a game watched by Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr and former Irish assistant Ian Evans, now at Sunderland.

Having already put the visitors ahead after 21 minutes - only for it to be cancelled out by Aidan O'Keeffe six minutes later - Fitzpatrick struck for what turned out to be the winner from 10 yards in the 56th minute, having been put through by Wes Hoolahan.

Two minutes later Fitzpatrick, Ollie Cahill and Stuart Byrne had shots blocked inside the box, while sandwiched in between all that Jason Byrne hit the post.

Shelbourne could have been made to pay for those misses but Joseph Ndo was denied by Steve Williams while Colm Foley blazed over from close range. Even before Fitzpatrick's winner, O'Keeffe missed two great chances for St Patrick's.

After 21 minutes St Patrick's had several opportunities to clear the danger before possession was gifted to Hoolahan, who fed Fitzpatrick and he unleashed a shot past a helpless Chris Adamson.

Although St Patrick's had begun brightly, Shelbourne always looked a threat and Byrne hit the inside of the post after 18 minutes. But the hosts were to level in the 27th minute when Robert Smith fed O'Keeffe, who blasted home.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Adamson, Quigley (Maher, 70 mins), Byrne, Ndo, Maguire, Foley, Osam, Fahey, Smith (Sheppard, 83 mins), O'Keeffe, Dunne.

SHELBOURNE: Williams, Heary, Crawley (Morgan, 78 mins), Rogers, Harris, Hoolahan (McCarthy, 89 mins), Cahill, S Byrne, Fitzpatrick, J Byrne, Cawley.

Referee: John Feighery (Dublin).