Dundalk 2-1 Drogheda United
DUNDALK fans who may have been worried how their side would fare without the services of Daniel Kearns will have slept well last night following a slick attacking display which saw the Lilywhites advance to the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup at the expense of Louth rivals Drogheda United.
Irish Under-21 winger Kearns, who completed a transfer to English Championship outfit Peterborough United earlier in the day, has been one of Ian Foster's most prominent attackers this season but his departure may just have opened the door for another tricky customer to shine.
Keith Ward was heavily involved in the Lilywhites 2-0 win, scoring the first and contributing brilliantly in general play. In this sort of form, Kearns' absence may not be the blow to Dundalk that some people are expecting.
While Ward buzzed impressively, star status – for the umpteenth time this season – went to Mark Quigley.
The Dundalk centre-forward took his tally to 19 for the campaign with another goal of the season contender and but for Robert Duggan, he would have added another couple for good measure.
Ward - the architect for a Jason Byrne volley that flashed wide early on, drew first blood for the Lilywhites in the 25th minute when he took hold of possession before looping a wonderful drive over Duggan from distance.
But if the former UCD man thought he was taking the plaudits for goal of the game, Quigley had other ideas.
Dundalk's top scorer, who had earlier attempted an audacious lob from just inside the Drogheda half which Duggan did well to tip over his bar – brought the house down in the 29th minute with the home side's second.
Ross Gaynor's corner was only half cleared to the edge of the box and Quigley, where many would have trashed wildly, showed incredible vision and guile to drop an inch perfect lob over a crowd of bodies to find the net.
Chances continiued to fall for the home side in the second-half. Jason Byrne rattled the woodwork with a curling effort and Duggan had to make copious saves to deny Quigley and substitute Marc Griffin.
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.
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: Dave McKeon (Dublin).