Galway United 4 Athlone Town 1IN A year laden with drama for Galway United, cup football has brought relief and positive results at Terryland Park.
Beaten semi-finalists in the League Cup, Galway sauntered into the last eight of the blue ribband competition by chiselling out a rare home win against Athlone Town.
A dash of intrigue surrounded this fixture considering the Athlone squad was packed with former Galway United players.
Five players donned the white shirt of the midlanders and all were eager and enthusiastic to remind the locals of their ability.
And their determination was reflected early on as Athlone pilfered an early, fifth-minute advantage when Robbie Hamm bundled home Joey Maloney's nifty free-kick.
Galway's resolve was receiving a stern examination, but positive answers were eventually summoned in the second quarter as the locals located a way back into the contest.
Parity was restored in the 33rd minute when John Lester provided the glancing header to equalise following Ciarán Foley's deep cross.
Four minutes later Galway seized the initiative when John Fitzgerald crashed a venomous header past Ciarán Kelly after John Russell fashioned the opportunity.
Having absorbed Athlone's initial bombardment, Galway were now landing the blows.
The third goal arrived on the hour mark when Jesper Jorgensen put some flesh on Galway's lead.
O'Shea embellished the success with two minutes remaining as Galway advanced to the quarter-finals.
GALWAY UNITED:Rogers; Conneely, Lester, Fitzgerald, Kenna (Tierney, 75); O'Shea, Foley, Russell (McBrien, 75), McCulloch; Molloy (Glynn, 80), Jorgensen.
ATHLONE TOWN:Kelly; Rossiter, Keady, Sheridan, Hamm; Maloney, Jinks, Russo (McGee, 46), Hayes, Coffey (Scullion, 70); Lavine (Mernagh, 38).
Referee:A Buttimer (Cork).
