Shamrock Rovers breeze past Athlone to book FAI Cup quarter-final place

First Division basement side Town held out until three minutes after half-time when Gary McCabe buried a penalty.

Sean Boyd, Brandon Miele, Simon Madden and James Doona added further goals to reflect Rovers’s dominance.

The Hoops were gifted the opener when Colm Cross handled in the area, allowing McCabe to convert.

Three minutes later Boyd scored for the third game in a row by smashing home after goalkeeper Jamie Quinn spilled Trevor Clarke’s drive.

Miele pounced on 63 minutes by turning on the edge of the box to beat Quinn before Madden stormed forward 10 minutes later to grab a rare goal.

Substitute Doona completed the rout 12 minutes from the end by punishing another defensive error as the visitors ran riot.

ATHLONE TOWN – Quinn; Molloy, Moloney, Raftery, Fletcher; Barry (Oyeniyi 69), Monaghan (Reid 79), Coss, McGrane; Lyons, Hanaphy (Gaffey 81).

SHAMROCK ROVERS – Hyland; Webster, Cornwall, O’Connor; Madden, K Brennan,

G McCabe, Miele (Doona 64), T Clarke (G Brennan 59); Boyd (Dobbs 65), D Clarke.

REF – R Harvey (Dublin)

Att: 335.