Holders Derry City advance with routine FAI Cup win over Athlone

Derry City began their defence of the Sports Direct FAI Cup with a comfortable victory over Athlone Town, at a sunkissed Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

Will Patching's first half penalty and stoppage time goals from Brandon Kavanagh and Michael Duffy settled the tie, which in truth was played at a slow pace and lacked any real energy throughout the 90 minutes.

While the Brandywell men were never really under any danger, not scoring an all-important second goal meant the First Division men were always in with a shout of equalising and taking the tie into extra-time.

City manager Ruaidhrí Higgins changed things up for the tie with Tadhg Ryan, Shane McEleney, Ciaran Coll, Brandon Kavanagh, Jordan McEneff, Danny Mullen and Cian Kavanagh all coming into the starting line-up.

Derry dominated from the early stages and took the lead on 22 minutes as Patching fired home from the penalty spot, after Brandon Kavanagh was bundled to the ground by Town centre-back Noah van Geenen.

The home side went close to doubling their lead soon after but after cutting inside Brandon Kavanagh's curling strike from the right hand side of the box was superbly tipped away by Town goalkeeper Enda Minogue.

Just after the half-hour mark Town striker Frantz Pierrot, who has been amongst the goals this season in the First Division, went close to scoring but after controlling the ball well inside the box, the Haiti man blasted over from 10 yards.

Derry went close to doubling their lead just before the break as Brandon Kavanagh played in Jordan McEneff, but the midfielder's close range strike was saved by an onrushing Minogue.

City should have done better on 56 minutes as Sadou Diallo's long ball released Cian Kavanagh, who after cutting in from the right set-up