Scoreless draw proves enough for Limerick

Limerick FC, who played out a scoreless draw with Athlone, and Sligo Rovers, who weren't playing, qualified for the quarter-finals of the League Cup following last night's final round of group games.

Galway United, whose 4-1 win over Mervue United means they finish runners-up to Limerick in Group C, and Home Farm/Everton, second placed in Group E, must vie for the final quarter-final place after they finished with six points each and an identical goal difference. A playoff game is likely to decide who goes through.

Limerick's point at Hogan Park, Rathbane was enough to win Group C, but Dave Connell's side will be disappointed they didn't do so with a win their overall dominance deserved.

Howie King, Jason O'Connor and Anthony McCormack all fluffed good chances for Limerick, while Eddie Hickey ably dealt with Athlone's two best chances early on.

Galway had the perfect start against non-league Mervue, racing into a 2-0 lead after only 10 minutes with goals from new signing Eric Levine and Coley Kelly.

Levine got a second seven minutes into the second-half while 16-year-old Shamie Rabbitte added Galway's fourth two minutes later. Former Galway player Donie Farragher got Mervue's consolation goal a minute from time.

Finn Harps's failure to beat Fanad United in a scoreless draw at Finn Park, Ballybofey cost them a quarter-final place as Sligo Rovers won through courtesy of a better goal difference.

Johnny Gallagher hit a post for Fanad after just two minutes while Rory Boyle might have won it for Finn Harps but for a tremendous save by Fanad goalkeeper Damien Bradley 17 minutes from the end.

Monaghan United beat Longford Town 4-1 with their goals coming in the final 24 minutes of their meaningless Group D clash at Gortakeegan.

Longford led from Anthony Tobin's 36th minute strike. But goals from Aaron Shearer (66 minutes), James O'Callaghan (80), Mick Scully (82) and Derek O'Neill (89) saw Monaghan run out convincing winners.

Colm Talbot salvaged a point with an 81st minute equaliser for St Francis in a similarly academic match with Shamrock Rovers at Whitehall in Pool E.

Brian Morrisroe, making his competitive debut, rewarded Rovers' first-half dominance with the lead goal eight minutes before half-time, shooting low past Mark Clohessy after Tony Cousins had played him in on goal.