Derry City began their defence of the Sports Direct FAI Cup with a comfortable victory over Athlone Town, at a sunkissed Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
Will Patching's first half penalty and stoppage time goals from Brandon Kavanagh and Michael Duffy settled the tie, which in truth was played at a slow pace and lacked any real energy throughout the 90 minutes.
While the Brandywell men were never really under any danger, not scoring an all-important second goal meant the First Division men were always in with a shout of equalising and taking the tie into extra-time.
City manager Ruaidhrí Higgins changed things up for the tie with Tadhg Ryan, Shane McEleney, Ciaran Coll, Brandon Kavanagh, Jordan McEneff, Danny Mullen and Cian Kavanagh all coming into the starting line-up.
Derry dominated from the early stages and took the lead on 22 minutes as Patching fired home from the penalty spot, after Brandon Kavanagh was bundled to the ground by Town centre-back Noah van Geenen.
The home side went close to doubling their lead soon after but after cutting inside Brandon Kavanagh's curling strike from the right hand side of the box was superbly tipped away by Town goalkeeper Enda Minogue.
Just after the half-hour mark Town striker Frantz Pierrot, who has been amongst the goals this season in the First Division, went close to scoring but after controlling the ball well inside the box, the Haiti man blasted over from 10 yards.
Derry went close to doubling their lead just before the break as Brandon Kavanagh played in Jordan McEneff, but the midfielder's close range strike was saved by an onrushing Minogue.
City should have done better on 56 minutes as Sadou Diallo's long ball released Cian Kavanagh, who after cutting in from the right set-up his namesake Brandon, but the midfielder's shot from the edge of the box was straight at Minogue.
The Candystripes made four changes on 58 minutes with experienced men Cameron Dummigan, Patrick McEleney, Michael Duffy and Paul McMullan all coming on, as Higgins looked for his side to get a crucial second goal.
Striker Danny Mullen, who missed a good chance just after the hour mark, should have done better on 66 minutes but he was unable to get his head to Ronan Boyce's right wing cross.
Right at the death Brandon Kavanagh sealed the tie when he controlled Patrick McEleney's pass inside the box, before drilling the ball low past Minogue.
City netted a third deep into stoppage time as Patrick McEleney's sublime chip picked out Michael Duffy, who coolly headed home from close range.
Elsewhere St Patrick's CY were victorious in the battle of the Leinster Senior League sides with Lucan United at O'Hanlon Park.
Former Cork City and Longford Town striker Dave Mooney, now 38, bagged two goals for Lucan to level at 1-1 and 2-2.
Substitute Mark Ivie hit a stoppage time winner for a 3-2 win and a place in the last 16.
Skerries Town won the other non-league clash with a comfortable 3-0 success over Portlaoise AFC.
Robert McKenna notched a goal in either half with Josh Mullin adding a late goal.
Derry City: Tadhg Ryan, Ronan Boyce, Shane McEleney, Cameron McJannet, Ciaran Coll; Sadou Diallo (Cameron Dummigan 58), Will Patching (Patrick McEleney 58), Jordan McEneff (Michael Duffy 58), Brandon Kavanagh; Danny Mullen (Jamie McGonigle 82), Cian Kavanagh (Paul McMullan 58).
Athlone Town: Enda Minogue, Noah Van Geenen, Daniel McKenna, Patrick Hickey, Aaron Connolly, Frantz Pierrot, Hajl Abdlkadir (Dylan Gavin 81), Jamar Campion-Hinds, Matthew Leal (Jack Kavanagh 67), Michael Peprah (Matthew Baker 81), Néhémie Larntoukou (Valerli Dolia 84).
