Clinical Drogheda dispatch Athlone to reach first Cup semi-final since 2013

Drogheda United produced an efficient display in front of goal against Athlone Town to ensure they will take part in the FAI Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2013.

That was the year the Drogs went one further and reached the Aviva Stadium showpiece only to lose out in agonising fashion to Sligo Rovers late in the day at Lansdowne Road.

While they remain in the midst of a relegation battle, advancing to the last four of the cup competition is a further boost to Kevin Doherty's team as the season enters its business end.

This performance was businesslike and clinical in its execution. United were far from their best but they didn’t need to be.

Athlone Town had lost four league games on the trot ahead of this game.

Only a Cup win over Waterford had cheered the home faithful of late. Still, that earmarked this match as a potential banana skin for Drogheda. That will be partly why Kevin Doherty named an unchanged - and strong - team again.

His heavy hitters took care of the job in hand professionally with Douglas James-Taylor's brace either side of the break putting them in command.

His first was a gift.

Oisín Duffy, Daniel McKenna and goalkeeper Enda Minogue all contributed to an almighty mess in the Athlone defence. With all three players grounded, James-Taylor slotted the ball into an empty net.

From Darragh Markey’s corner, James-Taylor's header crashed off the bar seven minutes into the second half.

But the loose ball fell kindly for the on-loan striker to score his 11th of a fine season.

Ryan Brennan played, and scored, in that final against Sligo 11 years ago. He scored the game's best goal tonight – a stunning free kick shortly after the hour mark. It was the perfect way to mark 200 appearances for his hometown club.

Adam