3 v 0 
Athlone TownVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 July 2023 | 5:00 pm | FAI Cup | 2023 |
Match Report
Derry leave it late to ensure FAI Cup victory over Athlone
Derry City got the defence of their cup crown off to a winning start with a 3-0 win over Athlone Town in the Brandywell today.
A 23rd minute penalty from Will patching alongside two injury time goals from Brandon Kavanagh and Michael Duffy saw the holders book their place in the next round.
The two opposing approaches to this game were on display early. Derry were looking to control possession and create chances via well worked passing moves whilst Athlone looked to sit back and hit them on the counter, utilising the pace of Jamar Campion Hinds and Franz Pierrot.
The home side started to emerge as the dominant force however around the fifteen-minute mark where it seemed they were creating chance after chance, only to secede possession to Athlone every time, who in turn would give it back. The Candystripes got their deserved lead in the 23rd minute.
Jordan McEneff floated a ball into the box and Cian Kavanagh got across Noah Van Geenan. The Dutch defender got his challenge all wrong and went through the back of him, leaving Oliver Moran with no choice. Will Patching stepped up and sent Enda Minogue the wrong way.
Derry remained on top but didn’t get in on goal again for the rest of the half. Athlone were given a chance at goal in the 38th minute when Campion Hinds switched it to Nehemie Lamtoukou who found Pierrot in the box. The Haitian just couldn’t bring the ball down and ended up sending it well over.
The sides went in with the home side leading 1-0. Definitely the better side but Athlone did look dangerous on the counter on a couple of occasions.
The second half followed much in the same fashion. Derry were on top possession wise but didn’t create many clear-cut chances whilst Athlone continued to attempt to hit them on the counter.
It should’ve been 2-0 in the 66th minute. Nehemie Lamtoukou under no duress whatsoever played it right to Paul McMullen, who hesitated and was dispossessed by Patrick Hickey. A baffling error that Lamtoukou will be relieved not to have been punished.
Derry continued to chip away and secured the win in injury time. Firstly, Patrick McEleney found Brandon Kavanagh at the back stick following a missed chance from the latter and this time he made no mistake to double the lead.
A minute later, McEleney again found Michael Duffy at the back post with a sweet cross that was headed in. The 3-0 may be misleading in terms of how little Derry created but the holders will care little.
Timeline
| 8. Will Patching | 23' | |
| 41' | 15. Patrick Hickey | |
| 45+2' | 15. Haji Abdikadir | |
| Jordan McEneff Patrick McEleney | 58' | |
| Cian Kavanagh Paul McMullan | 58' | |
| Sadou Diallo Cameron Dummigan | 58' | |
| Substitute Callum McCay | 58' | |
| 67' | Matthew Leal Jack Kavanagh | |
| 81' | Haji Abdikadir Dylan Gavin | |
| 81' | Michael Peprah Matthew Baker | |
| Matthew Ward Jamie McGonigle | 82' | |
| 84' | Néhémie Lamtoukou Valerii Dolia | |
| 14. Brandon Kavanagh | 93' | |
| 7. Michael Duffy | 94' |
Past Meetings
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium Derry City FC v Athlone Town AFC |
1LOI Men's Premier Division
Athlone Town Stadium Athlone Town AFC v Derry City FC |
3 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium Derry City FC v Athlone Town AFC |
Ground
| Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium |
|---|
| Ryan McBride Brandywell, Derry, Northern Ireland, BT48 6NP, United Kingdom |
McEleney floats it to the back stick and Duffy heads it in to make it 3-0. Full time whistle then goes.
Goal! McEleney crosses it to Kavanagh and he puts it in! All over now.
Michael Duffy's shot is blocked by Hickey. Great defending yet again and Hickey has put together a potential MOTM case, despite likely being on the losing team.
Five minutes added on.
McMullen is played through but Kavanagh recovers and blocks the shot. Derry can't just quite find the clincher.
Both will continue.
Minogue clashes heads with McJannet. Both players being seen to.
McEleney's ball to Ward is put behind by Van Geenan. Very good defending and nothing comes of the corner.
Lamtoukou plays it to Danny Mullen for some reason, an absolutely horrendous backpass. Mullen hesitates and is dispossessed by Patrick Hickey. Really should've punished that, Lamtoukou will be relieved.
Mullen heads Duffy's corner over. Minogue came for that but he was never getting it.
Higgins brings on some of his senior players with a quadruple change. Probably looking to get some minutes for them before Thursday as well as see this one out.
Diallo finds Cian Kavanagh with a great long ball. He lays it off to Brandon Kavanagh whose eventual effort is right at Minogue. Well worked chance from Derry, their best of the half so far.
McKenna's long ball finds Pierrot and he turns both Derry centre halves before sending a shot over. Good work from Pierrot who needed some more support up there.
We're back.
Half time.
Two minutes added on at the end of the half.
Kavanagh slips through McEneff but Minogue is off his line to deal with it. Good goalkeeeping.
Hickey catches McEneff and gets a yellow. Nothing malicious but a yellow is the right call.
Falls to Pierrot in the box but he blares it over. Best worked chance for Athlone so far. Derry on top since the goal but Athlone had a glimpse at goal there.
Goal! Patching sends Minogue the wrong way. Derry take a predictable lead.
Penalty Derry! Van Geenan bundles down Kavanagh and left the ref with no choice.
Kavanagh goes down after he goes up against Hickey for a ball in the Athlone box. Strangely the free is given against him. Looked a strange one.
Diallo finds McEneff with a nice long pass and he plays it back to Patching. An effort on goal opens up but he hesitates twice and the chance goes. Derry establishing themselves now.
Mullen gets by Abdikadir and Connolly and gets a shot off only for Abdikadir to recover and put his effort behind for a corner. Very good physical play from the Derry man.
Ciaran Coll sends a cross into McEneff but Hickey gets a touch on it. Minogue collects what was nearly an awkward one.
Mullen chests down a floated ball to McEneff but he slices it. Derry's first shot on goal.
First corner of the game goes to Athlone. Stems from a counter attack which their lethal pace was on display.
We're off.
Teams coming out of the tunnel. Kickoff is nigh.
New signing and former Charlton Athletic man Dylan Gavin is on the bench for Athlone. Nehemie Lamtoukou, also a new player, starts.
Athlone on the other hand will be focused on promotion from the First Division but Dario Castelo has put out a full XI, hoping his side can cause an upset.
Derry will be hoping this is the beginning of a successful defence of their cup crown. Ruaidhri Higgins has made a few changes but not many, so this indicates he has his sights set on another successful cup run.
Hello and welcome to finalwhistle.ie for live coverage of today's FAI Cup clash between Derry City and Athlone Town. I'm Seán Comber and I'll be taking you through this evening's events.