League champions Drogheda United won their first FAI Cup match since they lifted the trophy in 2005, when they defeated Douglas Hall from the Munster senior league at Turners Cross.
Two fine strikes from midfielder Adam Hughes in a six minute first half spell left the visitors in a good position at the break.
They guaranteed their place in the fourth round when Shaun Maher headed a third goal five minutes into the second half, a goal which delighted the centre back who was returning to the side after injury.
Drogheda came into the match seeking their first win in the FAI Cup since they defeated Cork City in the Landsdowne Road final of December 2005, having lost in the first round of the competition in the last two seasons to Limerick and Bohemians.
Douglas who last year defeated Cobh Ramblers by 4-1 in St Coleman’s Park at this stage of the competition, before losing to Limerick in the next round, had already reached the Umbro FAI Intermediate Cup final this season where they lost in the final to Rockmount.
It was the home side who could have taken an early lead when Drogheda goalkeeper Miko Vilmunen tiped an effort from Robert Stanton over the crossbar for a corner kick, and then the Cork midfielder Kevin Mulcahy volleyed over the bar from 15 yards with the goalkeeper to beat.
But then the full time professional outfit took charge of the game.
Adam Hughes should have scored when he shot over from eight yards, and sixty seconds later a powerful shot from full back Joe Kendrick was brilliantly saved by home goalkeeper Adrian O'Donovan.
It was no surprise when the visitors scored twice in six minutes.
Both goals came from Adam Hughes and they were similar in their execution.
The first on 27 minutes was a well struck shot from 25 yards low to the bottom corner of the net; his second was another fine effort into the same corner from the edge of the area.
Drogheda manager Paul Doolin - who has been an FAI Cup winner seven times - saw his side go 3-0 in front after 50 minutes.
Ollie Cahill swung in a corner kick and Shaun Maher, back in the side after injury, powered home a header from seven yards out into the roof of the Douglas net.
After that it was a stroll into the next round for the visitors who will be one of the favourites to go a long way in this year’s competition.
DOUGLAS: A O'Donovan; Moore, Hackett, Long, Wilkinson, McSorley, Cullinane, O'Connell, G O'Donovan, Stanton, Mulcahy.
Substitutes; Bowen for Hackett h/t, Moreland for O'Connell 57 mins, O'Shea for Wilkinson 78, O'Sullivan, Bermingham.
DROGHEDA: Vilmunen; Kendrick, Gavin, Gartland, Hughes, Byrne, Zayed, Ristila, Maher, Cahill, Iyane Thiam.
Subs; Tambouras for Kendrick 74, Bates for Iyane Thiam h/t, McAllister, Clarke for Byrne 89, Ewings.
Referee. Alan Kelly(Cork).
