Athlone Town progressed to the next round of the FAI Carlsberg Cup tonight, with a 2-1 win over Galway United in Saint Mel's Park.
Town dominated the opening 45 minutes, and should have lead by a few goals, instead of going in level with their opponents.
Former United player Eric Lavine had Town's first chance as early as the fourth minute.
Put through with a great ball from Colin Fortune, United goalkeeper Alan Gough produced a great save to put the ball out for a corner.
Lavine was again involved in Town's next chance on 11 minutes.
The striker crossed from the left to captain Padraig Moran in the box. Moran's side-footed effort came off the bar with Gough well beaten.
A minute later and Gough was quick off his line to deny Moran after he ran on to Brian McCarthy's diagonal ball.
The deserved lead eventually arrived on 13 minutes. Moran got the slightest of touches on Fortune's free-kick to send the ball to the back of the net.
Town almost doubled their lead on 17 minutes. Moran skinned Ronan Frawley down the left wing before crossing to Istvan Lakatos. The Hungarian almost beat Gough at the near post, but he managed to grab the ball on the line.
The visitors grabbed an undeserved equaliser just before the break, when Alan Kelly brought down Rafael Cretaro in the box.
Alan Murphy stepped up and despatched the ball to the back of the net to see the sides go in 1 – 1 at the break.
The second half continued much the same as the first with Athlone well on top.
Town's best chance came on 70 minutes, when big centre half Brian McCarthy was inches away from connecting with Colin Fortune’s free-kick at the back post.
Barry Moran had Town keeper Robbie Forde scrambling on 74 minutes, but the former Galway man pushed the ball around the post for a corner.
Six minutes later and Town were back on top. First Istvan Lakatos almost squeezed the ball in at the near post, but Gough managed to block the ball out for a corner.
Lakatos himself took the corner, and after bobbling around in the box, the ball came to Jim Sheridan who powered the ball home at the back post.
Tempers flared soon after when a tackle from Athlone's Kevin Williamson didn't go down well with the Galway players. When things calmed down, both Williamson and Galway's Ciaran Foley were given their marching orders.
Alan Kelly went close to adding a third in the closing minutes, but Gough again came to his side’s rescue, saving with his feet.
So Michael O'Connor’s Athlone Town march on to the next round of the Cup, after a thoroughly deserved win over locals rivals Galway United.
Athlone Town: Robbie Forde, Robbie Hamm, Alan Kelly, Brian McCarthy, Jim Sheridan, Colin Fortune, Istvan Lakatos, Des Hope, Eric Lavine, Damien Rushe, Padraig Moran.
Subs: Kevin Williamson for Moran (79), Noel McGee for Lakatos (82), Michael Harney for (86).
Galway United: Alan Gough, Mixie Harty, Fran Carter, Ronan Frawley, Billy Cleary, Ciaran Foley, Rafael Cretaro, Philip Reilly, Barry Moran, Alan Murphy, Derek O’Brien.
Subs: Nigel Keady for O’Brien (59).
Referee: Padraigh Sutton
