Mark Quigley hit yet another sublime effort as Dundalk overcame Louth neighbours Drogheda United in their FAI Cup 4th round replay at Oriel Park.
The Dundalk centre-forward took his tally to 19 for the season with a magnificent effort and was denied on a number of occasions by Drogheda goalkeeper Robert Duggan.
For good measure he even popped up in the second-half to clear Gavin Brennan's goal bound effort off the line as Ian Foster's men booked a last eight showdown with Bohemians.
Dundalk had to make do without the services of Daniel Kearns who completed a transfer to English Championship outfit Peterborough United earlier in the day. Keith Ward replaced him on the right flank with Jason Byrne coming in for Marc Griffin in attack.
Mick Cooke made one change to the side who performed so well in the 1-1 draw last Friday night with Robbie Gaul deputising for the suspended Stephen Quigley who was unfortunate to see red in the first game.
Ward was instrumental in the first opening of the game after eight minutes. Mark Quigley's beautiful pass found him on space on the right and his delivery was swept just off target by Jason Byrne.
Both sides looked determined to attack at will and Drogheda hit back with efforts from Tiarnan Mulvenna and Dinny Corcoran that Peter Cherrie had to deal with.
At the other end, Quigley almost had the crowd in raptures with an audacious effort from just inside that Drogheda United half that had Robert Duggan scrambling backwards to tip over the bar.
The home fans were celebrating in the 25th minute thanks to Ward's opener. The former UCD man picked the ball up and he was allowed time and space to lift a wonderful effort from 30-yards over the stranded Duggan.
The visitors were just recovering from going behind when Dundalk struck again four minutes later. Ross Gaynor's corner was only half cleared to the edge of the box and Quigley showed incredible vision to guide a magnificent lob over a crowd of bodies.
Drogheda opened the second-half brightly with Cherrie called into action from Mark O'Brien but the game was almost put to bed in the 51st minute when Jason Byrne curled a right footed effort off the bar. Duggan then had to get down low to push away another effort from the veteran hit man minutes later.
Drogheda threw men forward in a bid to salvage something from the game and after Gavin Brennan went close on a couple of occasions, Jordan White pulled one back in stoppage time but it proved too little, too late.
Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Simon Madden, Colin Hawkins, Carl McHugh, Nathan Murphy; Keith Ward, Greg Bolger, Dean Bennett, Ross Gaynor (Marc Griffin 60); Jason Byrne (Johnny Breen 83), Mark Quigley.
Subs not used: Cian Byrne, Philip Duffy, Chris Reilly, Craig Hanlon (GK).
Drogheda United: Robert Duggan; Robbie Gaul, Alan McNally, Dave Rogers, Phillip Hand; Mark O'Brien, Lee Lynch, Brian Gannon, Gavin Brennan; Tiarnan Mulvenna, Dinny Corcoran (Jordan White 60).
Subs not used: Peter McMahon, Robbie Clarke, Conor O'Keefe, Stephen Watters, Steven Trimble (GK)
Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).
