FANAD UNITED overcame Cork outfit Carrigaline United 2-0 at Trialough yesterday as the FAI Cup kicked off in earnest.

Action was sparse on the ground in a first half that was more notable for a hail shower which lasted 10 minutes.

It took 74 minutes of play before Fanad broke the deadlock when Seamus Friel rose high to head home Shane Sweeney's left-footed free kick.

Two minutes later the Donegal side doubled their lead. Paul Nash played a pass out wide to Eamon Sheridan who found Paddy McGrenaghan in space and he duly dispatched his effort past Carrigaline goalkeeper Peter O'Riordan.

Douglas Hall bounced back from back-to-back defeats over the Easter period to defeat Castlebar Celtic 4-1 in Moneygourney.

Castlebar, with one eye on their forthcoming FAI Junior Cup semi-final with Carrick United, were missing several first-team regulars but came close to opening the scoring on 15 minutes when Fintan McHale headed over from close range.

Douglas had exposed the Celtic defence on a number of occasions but came up against an inspired performance from goalkeeper Neil McNicholas, who was making his debut in the first team colours yesterday.

McNicholas had parried an earlier effort from Gerard O'Donovan only to be beaten by Declan O'Connell in the 25 minute.

Despite producing more heroics in the 40th minute when getting his hands to a Brian Wilkinson free, McNicholas had no answer to trikes from Keith Stanton (55) and Kevin Mulcahy (65) before Gary Price pulled one back for Castlebar a minute later.

Castlebar pressed for another, but Douglas Hall hit them on the counter when O'Connell beat McNicholas with a floating header in injury time.