Shelburne United and Ajax Athletic both won their quarter-finals of Leinster Junior Shield this afternoon, to set up semi-finals against two Meath teams, Skyrne Tara and Ashbourne United.

Shelburne United twice came from behind to beat Valley Park United on penalties, they conceded from a corner after only two minutes of the kick-off, but Patrick Barron scored a “bullet” of a header from a corner on the half-hour mark to level the game.

The home side went ahead from a direct free kick to the bottom corner on the stroke of half-time.

Midway through the second half Brian Lynch converted from the penalty spot to put the sides level again. It remained that way for the rest of the game to send the tie into the dreaded penalty shoot-out. Shelburne keeper, James Rossiter, saved three penalties to send his side into the semi-finals.

Ajax advanced to the semi-finals following their 3-1 victory over Iveagh Celtic. Sean “Beefy” Farnan opened the scoring in the 12th minute, the home side leveled matters before the break.

A Liam Moore converted penalty and an Adam Fox goal gave the Enniscorthy side the win, to keep the possibility of an all Wexford final very much alive.

O’Neills Leinster Junior Shield QF Final
2 Valley Park United Shelburne Utd 2 (Shelburne win on penalties)
1 Iveagh Celtic Ajax Athletic 3

O’Neills Leinster Junior Shield Semi-Finals
Games to be played on the weekend of 22-23 February
Shelburne Utd v Skyrne Tara
Ajax Athletic V Ashbourne United

Gorey Rangers face a difficult away trip to Castlebar Celtic in the next round of the New Balance FAI Junior Cup, following the Mayo side’s 2-0 away win against Tolka Rovers this afternoon.