Athlone Town 0 Longford Town 3: Two late goals helped Longford Town to finally see off the challenge of First Division Athlone Town following an entertaining quarter-final replay at St Mel's Park last night.

There were plenty of solid chances at both ends of the field in an open first half and Michael McCann should have put the home side ahead after seven minutes but fluffed his shot when put straight through on goal.

The visitors broke the deadlock on 21 minutes when John Martin crossed from the right and Shane Barrett finished from the edge of the box.

Three minutes later Barrett drilled a shot across the face of goal but Anthony Fennelly made a terrific one-handed save.

Adrian Murphy and Stephen Gavin then forced top-class saves from Stephen O'Brien before Dessie Baker hit the upright on the half-hour mark.

Tom Silke spurned a fantastic opportunity for Athlone on 62 minutes, latching on to Gavin's free-kick but losing his footing as he was about to shoot.

Longford got their second goal after 77 minutes when Alan Murphy rounded off a brilliant solo run by hammering the ball into the roof of the net.

Longford finished off the scoring three minutes later when Alan Kirby set up substitute Philip Keogh who rammed home from just inside the box.

ATHLONE TOWN: Fennelly, O'Keeffe, A Kelly, Silke, Hope, Rush, S Kelly, Gavin, McCann, Murphy, Collins. Subs: McNicholas for Collins (59), Donnelly for A Kelly (79), Davoren for McCann (85).

LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien, Murphy, Prunty, Gartland, Perth, Dillon, Kirby, Lavine, Baker, Barrett, Martin. Subs: Keogh for Martin (27), Paisley for Barrett (83), Keegan for Baker (86).

Referee: P McKeon (Dublin)