DERRY City boss Ruaidhrí Higgins admitted he was pleased his side started their defence of the Sports Direct FAI Cup with a comfortable win over Athlone Town.
Higgins however insisted Derry should have made the first round tie a lot more easier, as they only really killed the First Division side off until stoppage time as Brandon Kavanagh and Michael Duffy added to Will Patching's first half penalty.
"Getting into the next round was the objective at the start of the day, I would have liked the job to have been done quicker, but we got there in the end," he insisted.
"We had opportunities and we were wasteful and we had complete dominance of the ball, but you get nothing for that, because you have to take your chances and thankfully we got two late goals, to make it more comfortable for us in the end.
“I remember saying to the lads before the first-round last year that they were four games away from the Aviva and the showpiece event; today was about getting 25% of that done again, and we’ve done it, and why not win it back-to-back?
"It would be a monumental achievement. You have got to be greedy for medals because in 20 years’ time, all you have to look back on are memories and medals. I know it’s really early to be talking about it, but our ambition is to go and try and win the cup, that’s for sure.”
On this showing Derry will need to improve their form if they harbour any hopes of doing anything this season domestically or in Europe.
As expected the home side made a host of changes to their side which defeated HB Torshavn on Thursday night with Tadhg Ryan, Shane McEleney, Ciaran Coll, Brandon Kavanagh, Jordan McEneff, Danny Mullen and Cian Kavanagh all coming into the starting line-up.
City were rightfully awarded a penalty on 22 minutes as Noah van Geenen brought down Brandon Kavanagh inside the six yard box and referee Oliver Moran pointed to the spot and Will Patching slotted home the resulting penalty, placing the ball low into Enda Minogue's bottom right hand corner.
Minogue kept his side in the tie moments later when diving full stretch to his right he pushed away Brandon Kavanagh's curling effort, after the right winger cut inside onto his favoured left foot.
On 38 minutes Athlone created their first chance as in-form striker Frantz Pierrot did well to bring the ball down inside the box, but he blasted over from 10 yards.
Right on the stroke of half-time the home side went close to adding a second, as Brandon Kavanagh found Jordan McEneff with a lovely pass, but the ex-Shelbourne man saw his close range effort saved by an out-rushing Minogue.
Derry had a good chance to score a second on 56 minutes as Cian Kavanagh got in behind the Town defence, before laying the ball back to Brandon Kavanagh, but the midfielder's shot was straight at Minogue.
Striker Danny Mullen, who missed a good chance just after the hour mark, should have done better on 66 minutes but he was unable to get his head to Ronan Boyce's right wing cross.
The Candystripes made four changes on 58 minutes with experienced men Cameron Dummigan, Patrick McEleney, Michael Duffy and Paul McMullan all coming on, as Higgins looked for his side to get a crucial second goal.
Striker Danny Mullen, who missed a good chance just after the hour mark, should have done better on 66 minutes but he was unable to get his head to Ronan Boyce's right wing cross.
Right at the death Brandon Kavanagh finally scored Derry's second when fired home past Minogue, after controlling Patrick McEleney's clever pass.
The home side completed their scoring on 95 minutes as captain McEleney found Michael Duffy, with a tremendous lofted centre and the winger made no mistake from close range, heading home past a hapless Minogue.
MATCH STATS
Derry City: Ryan, Boyce, S McEleney, McJannet, Coll; Diallo (Dummigan 58), Patching (P McEleney 58), McEneff (Duffy 58); B Kavanagh, Mullen (McGonigle 82), C Kavanagh (McMullan 58).
Athlone Town: Minogue, Van Geenen, McKenna, Hickey, Connolly, Pierrot, Abdlkadir (Gavin 81), Campion-Hinds, Leal (Kavanagh 67), Peprah (Baker 81), Larntoukou (Dolia 84).
Referee: Mr Oliver Moran.
