Athlone Town 0 Sheriff YC 0 (aet; Sheriff won 4-3 on penalties)

His equaliser last Friday night having forced this replay, John Rock slotted home the decisive penalty in the shootout to put non-league Sheriff into the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup.

The AUL champions now travel to meet Longford Town in the last eight.

Though he had his own spot kick saved by Paddy Dunican, Sheriff goalkeeper Lee Murphy was their other hero on the night as he saved from Derek Doyle and Aidan Friel in the shootout.

The better side in Friday’s first game, Sheriff started the better again in Lissywollen with Dunican stretching to tip over John Lester’s free kick from distance on seven minutes.

Visiting winger Kevin Lynch had a shot deflected for a corner before Athlone threatened on 18 minutes; Ian Fletcher bringing a clumsy save from Murphy.

But Murphy soon excelled with the save of the half, getting down well at his back post to bat away a free header from Conor Dunne following a corner.

Sheriff finished the half on the front though, with Kevin Lynch ghosting past two defenders to work Dunican into a save with his foot.

Into the second half, home defender Conor Dunne made a telling block on Stewart Glen before Dunican saved twice in quick succession from Lynch and Rock as Sheriff remained on top.

Fletcher relieved the pressure on Athlone, his 65th minute shot deflected narrowly wide, while Gavin Boyne should have done better than shoot tamely at Murphy. With 90 minutes failing to separate the sides, Dunican rescued Town with the save of extra-time from substitute Seán Murphy.

ATHLONE TOWN: Dunican; Friel, C Dunne, S Dunne, O'Donnell; Mulroney (Kelly, 67), Fletcher (O'Sullivan, 81), Boyne, Doyle; O'Connor, Gorman.

SHERIFF YC: L Murphy; Flood, Kavanagh, Browne; Lester; Higgins (S Murphy, 69), D Dunne, T Dunne, Lynch; Rock, Glen (P Murphy, 74).

Referee: Eoghan O'Shea (Tipperary).