Thursday 14th June 2007, 9:48 pm
14th June 2007
Dundalk 3
Phillip Hughes 51, 62
Paul Smyth 83
Athlone Town 0
Oriel Park
Dundalk became the first team to claim a place in the last sixteen of this year's FAI Cup following a 3-0 win over Athlone Town at Oriel Park tonight. Three second half goals were decisive as the First Division leaders advanced.
Phillip Hughes netted two of those goals with Paul Smyth scoring the third late in proceedings.
The home side had the better of the first half but couldn't make the breakthrough despite creating a number of good chances. Athlone might have nicked the lead just before the break though as Eric Lavine's deflected shot came back off a post.
Hughes put that scoreless first half out of mind as he fired Dundalk in front with a shot from edge of the box after 51 minutes.
Hughes headed in his eighth goal of the season from Dave Crawley's cross to make it 2-0 on 62 minutes.
Smyth lashed home a stunning long range shot to make it 3-0 on 83 minutes.
Dundalk : Bennion, Flanagan, Lynch, McGauley, Crawley, K Dunne, O'Connor, Marney, Doran (Perth 66), Smyth (Mulvenna 84), Hughes.
Athlone Town : Kelly, Rossiter, Frawley, McCarthy, Casey (Young 57), Hardy (Gavin 59), Fortune, Heffernan, Lavine, McTiernan (McGee 74), O'Dowd.