Dundalk 2 - 1 Drogheda United

Two sublime first-half finishes from Keith Ward and Mark Quigley saw Dundalk begin life without Daniel Kearns with a 2-1 replay win over Drogheda United which fired the Lilywhites into their first FAI Cup quarter-final in nine years.

After a lively opening from both sides, Ward gave the nine-times winners the lead on 26 minutes with a magnificent dipping shot from 30-yards, and Quigley produced a similarly classy finish before the half-hour mark as he lifted the ball into the net following a corner. It could have been more, Jason Byrne almost finding a third as he hit the bar in the second half. Drogheda went close through Alan McNally who had a shot cleared off the line, but all they could conjure was a goal from substitute Jordan White with the last kick of the game.

Dundalk boss Ian Foster made two changes to the team that drew on Friday night as Byrne and Ward replaced Mark Griffin, who was struggling with a groin injury, and the departed Kearns. After a brighter start than four days earlier, the first big chance of the match fell to the home side on eight minutes when Ward’s ball into the box was met on the turn by Byrne but his effort went over.

Moments later, at the other end, Lee Lynch forced Peter Cherrie to tip over. From that corner, Dundalk broke and Dean Bennett almost slipped in Greg Bolger but the ball wouldn’t fall kindly for the Wexford native, with Drogheda captain Dave Rogers tidying up. Daniel Corcoran then shot into Cherrie’s arms, before a dangerous cross from Quigley was headed away, in a lively opening quarter-hour.

On 14 minutes, Quigley tried an ambitious effort from 45-yards and it almost found the back of the net, only for the back-tracking Robbie Duggan to push the ball wide. Had it gone in, it would have matched any of the goals scored by his former club Sheriff against Shelbourne last Friday. Bennett then launched a fine forward run and got his shot away but, under pressure from Rogers, it went off target.

Lynch then drove a free-kick straight at Cherrie, before the game turned in five minutes before the half-hour mark. Dundalk hit the front on 26 minutes when Ward unleashed a wonderful 30-yard dipping shot into the top corner, before the lead was doubled on 29 minutes. A Ross Gaynor corner fell invitingly for Quigley on the left of the box and the striker’s delicate chip was inch-perfect as it found the far corner of the net. Quigley then tried another effort from range that forced Duggan to push over.

Drogheda had plenty of possession as they looked for a way back into the game before the break, but they couldn’t find it, Lynch’s wayward shot from distance their only effort before half-time. Dundalk were tested in the opening seconds after the restart as Cherrie had to stretch to save, but the hosts survived as no Drogheda player was near enough to take advantage.

On 50 minutes, the Scot tipped a cross behind. Seconds later, the tie was almost dead and buried as Byrne fooled Rogers on the edge of the box and curled goalwards, but he saw his shot agonisingly come back off the crossbar. Cherrie was then called upon again as Lynch’s free-kick was connected with by Rogers at the back post but his volley was well blocked away by the legs of the home No1. On 54 minutes, a poor header back by Robbie Gaul presented Byrne with another chance but Duggan did enough to stop the shot at his near post.

Before the hour, Dundalk again could have extended their lead as they produced a brilliant passage of play, ending with Bennett putting in Ward, but in acres of space he took an extra touch which allowed Duggan time to block. Ward then sprayed a superb pass into the path of Byrne but from the edge of the area his tame shot was gathered by the Drogheda ‘keeper.

On 63 minutes, substitute Griffin turned smartly inside the box and fired goalwards but Duggan blocked, Drogheda clearing and launching an attack of their own, but Tiarnán Mulvenna’s cross was intercepted and cleared behind by Bennett. Shortly after, Philip Hand’s left-footed free-kick from 25-yards went narrowly wide. On 67 minutes, Dundalk survived a scare as Hand’s ball into the box was challenged for, but it broke to McNally whose shot was somehow cleared off the line by Quigley.

From the corner, the home side broke brilliantly through Griffin down the left and he was fouled. The free-kick was taken short by Ward to Quigley, whose fierce shot fell to Byrne at the back post, but it came at him quickly and he could only divert it the wrong side of the target. With a quarter-of-an-hour remaining, Ward put a corner from the right on a plate for Quigley 25-yards out, and he took it on, but his effort went over. Then, for just the third time in 55 games as a Dundalk player, defender Simon Madden picked up a yellow card.

Shortly after, it could have been 3-0 once more as Bennett did well on the right of the box and his cross was for the in-rushing Griffin but Duggan got their first and gathered. Lynch then fired a 30-yard shot, a deflection taking it inches wide of the top corner. White then had an effort well blocked in the box. Cherrie denied Brennan late on, and despite White’s 93rd-minute goal, Dundalk eased through to the last eight where they will face Bohemians.

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Simon Madden ©, Colin Hawkins, Carl McHugh, Nathan Murphy; Keith Ward, Greg Bolger, Dean Bennett, Ross Gaynor (Mark Griffin 60); Mark Quigley, Jason Byrne (Johnny Breen 82).
Unused Subs: Craig Hanlon (GK), Cian Byrne, Philip Duffy, Chris Reilly.
Booked: Ward (40), McHugh (58), Madden (78).

Drogheda United: Robbie Duggan; Robbie Gaul, Alan McNally, Dave Rogers ©, Philip Hand; Mark O’Brien, Brian Gannon, Lee Lynch, Gavin Brennan; Daniel Corcoran (Jordan White 60), Tiarnán Mulvenna.
Unused Subs: Stephen Trimble (GK), Peter McMahon, Robbie Clarke, Conor O’Keefe, Stephen Watters, Dillon Kearney.
Booked: M O’Brien (39).

Referee: Dave McKeon (Dublin).
Attendance: 1,484.