Rangy Monaghan United striker Darren McKenna has been troubling defences all season without notching up an impressive goal tally. He made up for it yesterday by scoring the two goals that put his side into the third round of the FAI Cup.

Athlone Town surprised the home side in the first five minutes when Tony Izzy caught the Monaghan defence napping and got clear to the goal line where he pulled the ball back for Stephen Mullan who flicked the ball past Gareth Downey.

Monaghan had an attack of the jitters for a period thereafter but Athlone failed to cash in on some disorganised defending. But home nerves were soothed in the 21st minute when McKenna broke past two defenders to beat the advancing Gary Connaughton.

He almost scored a replica of that in the 39th minute when he eluded Chris Malone but put the ball wide of Connaughton and the goal. He made amends in the final minute of the half when he volleyed past Connaughton from close range.

Athlone might have been level in the 62nd minute had Gareth Downey not got a foot to a close-range grounder from Brian Morrisroe.

Athlone staged an all-out rally over the last half hour but Monaghan, concentrating on defence, kept them at bay.

MONAGHAN UNITED: Downey, white, Brunton, Scully, Place, McGrath, McConville, Shiels, Vaughan, McKenna, Murphy,

ATHLONE TOWN: Connaughton, Fitzell, O'Brien, Malone, Frawley, Doyle, Kelly, Morrisroe, Izzy (Myler, 69 mins), Mullan, McNevin.

Referee: Hugo Whoriskey (Dublin).