Early second-half goals from James McManus and Jake Doyle-Hayes saw Sligo Rovers avoid another FAI Cup setback against First Division leaders Dundalk in Oriel Park.
The Bit O Red have suffered surprise early-round exits in each of the last four seasons, including bowing out to UCD in 2024.
History looked like it might repeat itself when they were dominated by the home side for much of the first half but two goals inside four minutes - a screamer from McManus and a deft header from Doyle-Hayes - ensured their dream of a sixth FAI Cup success remains alive.
The visitors, whose manager John Russell was absent due to illness, almost got off to a dream start when Will Fitzgerald slipped Jad Hakiki in on the left inside the opening two minutes but he was denied by Enda Minogue at close range for the expense of a corner.
That would prove to be Sligo's only noteworthy attempt of the opening half, with Dundalk slowly growing into it after a nervous opening.
Their own first attempt arrived on 16 minutes when Daryl Horgan’s corner found Vinnie Leonard but his looping header was comfortable for Sam Sargeant to deal with.
The former Waterford goalkeeper was then called into action again eight minutes later when he was forced to spring to his right to push Harry Groome’s long range attempt away.
Groome then had penalty appeals turned away on 38 minutes after appearing to have his heels clipped as he was bursting into the box by Conor Reynolds.
The former Bray midfielder should have given the Louth men the lead in first-half stoppage time, however, when good work on the right by Declan McDaid, Shane Tracey and JR Wilson saw the latter pull back for Groome 10 yards out but he curled his effort just the wrong side of the post.
Sligo then hit the front within six minutes of the restart with a stunning strike from McManus, who met a partially cleared corner at the edge of the box with a stunning right footed strike that flew past Minogue to the top right hand corner.
It was then 2-0 on 54 minutes with Will Fitzgerald’s cross from the left flicked on by the head of Doyle-Hayes and into the bottom right hand corner.
Dundalk almost responded five minutes later when Shane Tracey’s ball in from the right was met first-time by Gbemi Arubi but his low effort was brilliantly turned around the post by Sargeant low to his left.
Andy Paraschiv then let fly from distance on 68 minutes with an effort that dipped just over the crossbar before fellow substitute Dean Ebbe let the visitors off the hook on 84 minutes when he latched onto a slack back pass to beat Sargeant but his effort lacked the power to get across the line.
Horgan then forced another fine save from Sargeant a minute later as Sligo held out for the hard-fought victory.
Dundalk: Enda Minogue; JR Wilson, Vinnie Leonard, Sean McHale (Conor O’Keeffe 22), Sean Keogh (Sean Spaight 71); Aodh Dervin, Shane Tracey (Andy Parashiv 61); Declan McDaid (Eoin Kenny 61), Harry Groome, Daryl Horgan; Gbemi Arubi (Dean Ebbe 61).
Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Conor Reynolds, Ollie Denham, Patrick McClean, Will Fitzgerald; Jake Doyle-Hayes (Daire Patton 66), James McManus; Owen Elding, Jad Hakiki, Ryan O’Kane (Kyle McDonagh 77); Wilson Waweru (Sebastian Quirk HT).
Referee: Aaron O’Dowd.
