Shamrock Rovers 1-0 Athlone Town

Andy Myler came back to haunt his former club with a late winner as Shamrock Rovers laboured into the semi-finals of the FAI eircom League of Ireland Cup at Tolka Park.

Having scored twice in the previous round in knocking out Drogheda United, Myler - who remains Athlone's leading goalscorer in a season with 29 back in 2001 - came on as a second-half substitute and headed the only goal of a one-sided game on 81 minutes.

Ger Rowe sent David Tyrrell's corner back across goal and Myler was well-placed to head past Danny O'Leary.

A near full-strength Rovers dominated from the start and had a good shout for a penalty waved away by referee Derek Tomney on 13 minutes when Conor Frawley looked to have impeded Tadhg Purcell.

Earlier, Dave O'Connor had drilled a shot wide after skipper Barry Ferguson had hooked David Cassidy's corner back into the box.
Purcell then headed wide when well-positioned before good defending by Frawley took the ball off the toe of the Rovers striker.

Ferguson got forward to head wide as the chances kept coming. Purcell, surprised to find himself onside from David McGill's attempted shot, seemed set to score on 37 minutes, but shot straight at Danny O'Leary from just yards out.

Rovers remained well on top into the second half and defender Dean Lawrence had a goal-bound shot deflected for a ninth corner five minutes in.

Athlone relieved the pressure seven minutes later with a rare foray forward as skipper Ian Rossiter overlapped down the right to see his shot well held by Rovers keeper Stephen O'Brien.

Shamrock Rovers: S. O'Brien, G. O'Brien, Ferguson, Lawrence, Langtry (Clarke, 90); Cassidy, D. McGill, Danny O'Connor, David O'Connor (Tyrrell, 52); Purcell (Myler, h/t), Rowe.

Athlone Town: O'Leary; Rossiter, Frawley, McCarthy, Young; O'Dowd, McTiernan (Harty, 87), Byrne, Fortune, Carberry (McGee, 70); Lavine.

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).