Shelbourne proved the masters of their own misfortune at Turners Cross tonight as Cork City moved a step closer to securing their first silverware of the season.

The visitors, beaten finallists in this competition last season, will rue a missed Jason Byrne penalty, poor finishing and the lapses in defence that handed Damien Richardson's side a place in Setanta Cup final.

Goals from Colin O'Brien and Neale Fenn settled matters and Cork will now meet the winners of Drogheda United and Linfield in the decider.

Shelbourne enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, Byrne and Glen Crowe both guilty of passing up gilt-edged chances, before a Colin O'Brien changed the complexion of the tie.

Having rarely threatened in the opening quarter, the home side took the lead in the 34th minute as the midfielder profitting from some shoddy defending before steering a clipped shot beyond Dean Delaney.

Cork continued to press after the break and were unlucky not to double their advantage when Dennis Behan hit the post in the 54th minute.

Byrne could have rescued the tie less than 60 seconds later fluffed his spot kick and Fenn, pouncing on a weak clearance from Dave Rogers, made no mistake from close range to put the result beyond doubt on 60 minutes.

To compound matters for Pat Fernlon's side, David Crawley was sent off in injury time for dissent.