TWO GOALS in the space of four first-half minutes did the damage as Dundalk advanced to the quarter-finals of the FAI Ford Cup at the expense of neighbours Drogheda United at Oriel Park.

Dundalk lined out without the services of Irish Under-21 star Daniel Kearns who completed a transfer to English Championship outfit Peterborough United earlier in the day.

Keith Ward was handed Kearns' spot on the right flank and the former UCD seemed to enjoy the responsibility, scoring a wonderful goal and playing a major role in the Lilywhites win.

Ward had a hand in the first opening of the game after eight minutes. Mark Quigley picked the him out with a great ball to the right flank. Ward's cross was just as good but Jason Byrne just couldn't guide his volley on target.

Games between these two Louth sides have been cracking encounters this season and this proved no different as Drogheda pushed forward with Dinny Corcoran and Tiarnan Mulvenna both drawing saves from Peter Cherrie.

Quigley gave the fans a taster of what was to come in the 14^th minute when he attempted an audacious lob from just inside the Drogheda half which Robert Duggan did well to tip over the bar.

The Drogheda goalkeeper was left stranded again as Dundalk took the lead in the 25^th minute. Ward picked the ball up in space some 30-yards from goal and he looped a wonderful dipping effort over the 'keeper to draw first blood to the Lilywhites.

Mick Cooke's men were given a mountain to climb as Dundalk stretched their lead just four minutes later. Ross Gaynor's corner was only half cleared to the edge of the box and Quigley executed a fantastic lob that sailed over a crowd of bodies to find the net.

The hapless Duggan was almost left red faced again in the 31^st minute but he did just enough to force another sublime Quigley lob behind for a corner.

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 51^st minute when Jason Byrne curled a right footed effort off the bar. Duggan then had to get down low to push away another effort form the veteran hit-man minutes later.

Chances continued 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: Cherrie; Madden, Hawkins, McHugh, N Murphy; Ward, Bolger, Bennett, Gaynor (Griffin 60); Byrne (Breen 83), Quigley.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Duggan; Gaul, McNally, Rogers, Hand; O'Brien, Lynch, Gannon, Brennan; Mulvenna, Corcoran (White 60).

REFEREE: D Hancock (Dublin).