Athlone Town sealed one of the biggest FAI Cup shocks in recent memory with a 4-1 victory over Shelbourne. Dean George scored a hat-trick, his first goals of the season, to help the Midlands club seal a semi-final spot, their first since 1998, wher
Athlone Town sealed one of the biggest FAI Cup shocks in recent memory with a 4-1 victory over Shelbourne.
Dean George scored a hat-trick, his first goals of the season, to help the Midlands club seal a semi-final spot, their first since 1998, where they will welcome either Bohemians or Dundalk.
It didn't take long for Athlone to raise hopes of a cup upset. Four minutes in, the elements played their part as the Shelbourne defence struggled to deal with a long ball forward which held up in the wind. George was able to get a shot away which was blocked but the rebound was reworked and George was there to tap home the right-sided cross.
Three minutes later, Shelbourne equalised. A fine individual effort from Kilduff as he turned two defenders and from the edge of the area, he found the bottom right-hand corner.
It was presumed that the Premier Division side would take control of the game from that point on but Athlone were more than a match and retook the lead in the 20th minute.
Shelbourne struggled to deal with Athlone's corner throughout the afternoon and skipper Scott Delaney found the net from a right-sided corner to put the home side back in front.
Athlone were almost 3-1 up before the break as Ciaran Grogan saw his effort cleared off the line from another right-sided corner.
Shelbourne needed a response in the second-half and they almost found one ten minutes after the break. Danger-man Kilduff held off the Athlone defenders once again and from 10 yards out, he forced an incredible one-handed save from Aaron Myles in the Athlone net.
The expected sustained pressure from Shelbourne never materialised and it was Athlone who went from strength to strength. Jack Reynolds crashed a free-kick off the post in the 60th minute before they went into a two-goal lead.
In the 65th minute, Aidan Friel misplaced a pass straight to George and he showed wonderful awareness to get through the Shelbourne defence and find the bottom corner.
13 minutes from time, Athlone wrapped up the victory and George sealed his hat-trick. Ronan Manning found a perfectly-weighted pass to George and he produced his best finish of the game to secure the match ball.
