Philip Hughes scored a hat-trick as Shelbourne exorcised a ghost or two at Tolka Park as they recorded a long overdue win over bogey side Limerick.

Alan Mathews Reds, four points clear at the top of the First Division and desperate to get back up to the top flight after five year, now have a home semi-final with St. Patrick’s Athletic to look forward to on the weekend of October 16.

Despite five changes, Shels got at a depleted Limerick from the off and deserved their lead goal 19 minutes.

Midfielder John Sullivan’s cross was hooked back into the box by Barry Clancy and topscorer Hughes’ predatory instinct took over as he controlled the ball on his chest, turned and volleyed past Barry Ryan for his 21st goal of the season.

With Cassidy, Dawson and Sullivan running midfield, rampant Shels doubled their lead on 27 minutes.

Hughes was involved again as he lost possession in the box. But the ball ran into the path of defender Andy Bhandarkar who, facing his own goal, inexplicably shot the ball into his own net as he attempted to put it out for a corner.

Limerick had staged a second half come back in the recent league game to win 2-1. But that looked unlikely as Shelbourne went 3-0 up within 15 seconds of the restart. McGill put over the telling cross and Hughes found Ryan’s bottom right corner with a fine header.

John Frost did give Limerick hope nine minutes later when cutting across from the right to rifled a low left-footer to the net from 30 yards

But Hughes completed his treble with a goal direct from a free-kick on 76 minutes - his 23rd strike of the season.

Sheedy tapped home a Stephen O’Flynn cross to make it 4-1 on 80 minutes. The young substitute then rattled Shels further when shooting home off a post in the 90th minute.

But the Reds took full advantage of their fourth round reprieve following non-league Sheriff YC’s expulsion to hold out and deservedly make the last four.

SHELBOURNE: Skinner; Matthews, Boyle,  Fitzgerald; B. McGill, Cassidy (Byrne, 82 mins.), Sullivan, Dawson, Clancy; Hughes (Da Silva, 90 mins.), Bermingham.

LIMERICK FC: B Ryan; Frost, Broughall (O‘Flynn 70 mins.), McCarthy, Bhandarkar; Hynes (Sheedy, 61 mins.), Quinn, O’Leary, Tracy, Coughlan (McGann, 55 mins.); Hynes.

REFEREE: D McKeon/R Winter (both Dublin).