Bohemians 2 Athlone Town 0: John Paul Kelly scored his first goals for Bohemians as they cruised into the third round at Dalymount Park last night. Kelly scored twice inside 12 second-half minutes to win the man-of-the-match award.

Both were superbly executed goals, the first he drilled under the body of Danny O'Leary after Tony Grant's unintentional return pass on 58 minutes. The second was sheer quality as the former youth international, released by Dominic Foley, drew O'Leary off his line and chipped the ball over the Athlone goalkeeper.

The side's respective standings in their divisions, and their current form, were all too evident as Bohemians dominated from the start and they could have had the game won by the break. Grant was the chief culprit in front of goal, blazing wide on 38 minutes before contriving to somehow head wide from James Keddy's superb cross.

In between, Foley's aerial presence was the real danger to Athlone. Foley set up Stephen Ward to bring the save of the half from O'Leary early on. The big striker then had his header cleared off the line by the efforts of O'Leary and Robbie Hamm on 41 minutes. O'Leary saved well from Foley with the striker then shooting wide before Kelly provided the spark for Bohemians.

BOHEMIANS: Gregg; Rice, Byrne, Oman, Keddy; Kelly, Hunt, Farrelly, Ward; Grant, Foley. Subs: Harkin for Grant (75 mins).

ATHLONE TOWN: O'Leary; Hamm, O'Keeffe, Noonan, A Kelly; Doyle, Rushe, Flanagan, Collins; O'Connor, Moran. Subs: Carberry for Doyle, McCann for Collins, Davoren for Moran (all 86 mins).

Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).