Athlone Town scrape through against battling Ringmahon Rangers

SPORTS DIRECT MENS FAI CUP: ATHLONE TOWN 1 RINGMAHON RANGERS 0 

Ringmahon Rangers put in a battling performance as high flying Athlone Town scraped into the next round with an early second half winner.

As expected, Athlone had most of the possession in the opening half against a team just back in pre-season training. The two best home chances came midway through the half when Carl Mujaguzi fired over from the edge of the penalty area and Brian Torre then hit the bar 10 minutes from the break. 

Ringmahon kept Athlone at bay while creating little in attack. Adam Delurey had their first chance when seeing his shot saved by Jack Harrington. On the half hour mark, from Rangers' first corner kick, Anthony Whitehead's shot was deflected wide by Anthony O’Donnell.

Athlone made a triple substitution at half time and finally made the breakthrough two minutes into the second half. A corner kick fell to Torre at the back post and he scored via the upright. 

Dean Ebbe should have doubled the lead but was denied by Eric Grimes. Ringmahon might have grabbed an equaliser after 55 minutes but Jack Cairns could not properly connect with the ball. On his debut, Leo Gaxha had another good chance but Grimes parried the shot.

Athlone: Harrington, Rodriguez (Connolly H/T), VanGeenen, Hand, Duffy (Ebbe H/T), Torre, Tetteh (Campion-Hinds H/T), Oakley, Mujaguzi (Leal 64), Robinson, Gaxha (Conway 80).

Ringmahon Rangers: Grimes, Ahern (Harlson 72), Delurey, McCarthy (Leahy 76), O’Donnell, Whitehead, O’Sullivan, Kenny, Cairns (Linehan 76), McAlavey, Varian.

Referee: Alan Patchell (Dublin)