CLINICALLY taken second half goals from Brendan McGill and captain David Cassidy put First Division Shelbourne into the FAI Ford Cup Final as 10-man St Patrick’s Athletic's jinx in the competition continues.

As the Incicore side's wait for cup glory enters its 51st year, Shelbourne now meet holders Sligo Rovers in the final at the Aviva Stadium on November 6 - their first appearance in the decider since winning double in 2000.

This rollercoaster semi-final replay had it all.

Shelbourne keeper Dean Delaney gifted St. Patrick’s an early lead before his opposite number Gary Rogers was harshly sent off to allow the visitors level from a penalty.

Promotion chasing Shelbourne then used their extra man to good effect in the second half and even had the luxury of a missed penalty as they deservedly won the tie.

As in the first game, it was Alan Mathews’ First Division promotion-chasers who started the better, taking the game to St Patrick’s early on.

But a howler by Delaney presented the Saints with the lead on 14 minutes. Daryl Kavanagh did well to feed the ball wide left to Derek Doyle to cross.

David McMillan got in a looping head from distance which Delaney should have claimed but the experienced keeper allowed the ball fall through his hands and into the net.

But Shelbourne were back in it in dramatic fashion on the half hour.

St Patrick’s midfielder Stephen Bradley and Rogers went for Ian Ryan’s long throw into the box with Shelbourne’s Kevin Dawson, all three colliding in a heap on the ground.

To the consternation of the home fans, referee Dave McKeon sent off Rogers - who was adamant he hadn’t touched Dawson - and gave Shelbourne a penalty.

Dawson then sent replacement keeper Chris Bennion the wrong way from the spot.

It was now role reversal from the first game when Shelbourne were the ones who had a player sent off in the first half.

Eight minutes later, Shelbourne then almost had the lead. The always influential Cassidy unlocked the offside trap onto McGill's through ball. The curling shot was agonisingly wide of a post in front of the visiting followers in shed end.

But Cassidy played a crucial role as Shelnbourne took the lead with a terrific goal on 48 minutes. 

A brilliant exchange of passes between Philly Hughes and Cassidy set up McGill in acres of space, and the winger drilled home from 12 yards.

Bennion then kept St Patrick’s in it when diving the right way to save another Dawson spot kick on 63 minutes after Cassidy had been taken down by Shane McFaul.

Man-of-the-match Cassidy then fittingly sealed it on 86 minutes, collecting Hughes' pass to cut back inside Conor Kenna and dink the ball to the net.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Shortall (Stewart, 85 mins.), E. McMillan, Kenna, Bermingham; D. McMillan (Bennion, 30 mins.), McFaul (Daly, 64 mins.), Bradley, Doyle; Kavanagh, North.

SHELBOURNE: Delaney; Ryan, Boyle, Paisley, Byrne; B. McGill, Sullivan (Matthews, 85 mins.), Dawson, Clancy; Cassidy; Hughes (Gorman, 88 mins.).

REFEREE: D McKeon (Dublin).