A quick-fire hat trick by Patrick Hoban ensured Dundalk had a safe passage to the quarter-final of the FAI Cup against non-league side St. Mochtas FC. They didn’t have it easy however as the Dublin side gave them quite the scare in the first half as a spirited effort gave them their just rewards as Gareth McCaffery had cancelled out Sami Ben Amar’s first goal in a Dundalk shirt. Han Jeong Woo got a fifth as Dundalk’s quest for a seventh cup final appearance is intact. For Dundalk, the FAI Cup is the final show in town when it comes to a chance to get silverware, something that both Vinny Perth and his players are well aware of.

Stephen Donnelly replaces St. Mochta's, Gareth McCaffery.

There is a double substitution for Dundalk as Mayowa Animasahun and Ryan O'Kane are introduced in place of Sam Stanton and Han Jeong-woo.

St Mochta's make a double change as Michael Scott and Gareth Brady are replaced by Jason Marks and Denis Moran.

And Dundalk adds a fifth, Han latch onto a defensive lapse and he slots it into an empty net.

Mark Hanratty comes on for Ben Amar.

Ben Amar comes off for the second change of the evening.

The corner sent it is met by Nattestad but he heads it well over the bar.

And thats the hat trick! Sean Murray with a fantastic through pass and Hoban makes a clever run and slots it past Kmet. Three goals in ten minutes.

Patrick Hoban looked odds on for a hattrick only for his effort to be saved at the feet of Kmet.

Sean Murray with a free kick in a central position, his curling effort just goes wide of Kmet's far post.

Two in a minute, the next attack Hoban takes the ball onto his chest and turns calmly and curls his effort past Kmet. And Breathe Dundalk fans!

And Patrick Hoban slams the ball past Kmet and Dundalk are back in the lead.

No real complaints there Sami Ben Amar advancing run saw him pushed in the area and the referee points to the spot.

PENALTY DUNDALK!

Sean Murray's free-kick is sent in and Nattestad headed it towards Boyle who heads it over the bar.

For a foul just on the edge of the area, Brady gets a yellow card.

We are back underway for the second half.

Dundalk has huffed and puffed but the St. Mochta's house simply won't blow down as the sides enter the break on level terms. The first goal in Dundalk colours for Sami Ben Amar was cancelled out by Gareth McCaffery and in many respects, the Leinster Senior League side has wanted this more. Dundalk will need to up the tempo and fast.

Three added minutes at the end of the first half.

What a save from Kmet! A cross from the right was met by Hoban who you would bet the house on to score but somehow Kmet keeps it out.

Following an attacking phase of play the ball falls to Dummingan whose curling effort is well saved by Kmet.

Dundalk with a little bit more urgency in their game in the last few moments, Sean Murray and Sam Stanton are leading the charge but with St. Mochta's playing six across the back in the defensive line it's very difficult to break down.

The ball falls to Daly on the edge of the area who hits it on the volley but it was always rising and goes over.

Greg Sloggett comes on for the injured Wilfried Zahibo.

It looks as if Zahibo's night is over, he comes off injured and is heading for the changing rooms, he is being carried off by two of the Dundalk medical staff.

Fantastic few moments for Dundalk, Sam Stanton had two sights on the goal and both were saved by the keeper and blocked by a defender. Dundalk looking to get back in front and fast.

Under a very heavy challenge, Ben Amar is getting treatment, the Dundalk players were not happy with the fact that he was taken down in the area.

And the visitors are level! A terrible mistake by Sonni Nasttestad and Gareth McCaffery was on hand to latch onto the loose ball, round Yates to slot it into the net.

A corner sent in by Patrick Hoban is met by Ben Amar with a perfectly timed header and the hosts are in front.

A great break down the right by Michael Scott feeds the ball to Brady but the chance is broken down thanks to a great tackle from Andy Boyle who clears the danger. The away side is dangerous on the counter attack.

And we are underway at Oriel Park, St. Mochtas kick us off and the action is in play.

And here comes the two teams, Dundalk in the traditional black and white, St. Mochta in two shades of blue.

Other team news: Han JeongWoo comes into the starting line up as does Sean Murray and Wilfried Zahibo.

TEAM NEWS: Cameron Yates come in for his first competitive debut for Dundalk, the former Wycombe Wanderers man will wear the number 12 jersey. Wilfried Zahibo comes into the starting lineup - his first since the first leg of the Europa Conference league vs Levadia Tallinn.

As has been pointed out to me tonight it has been sixteen years ago on this night that the first senior competitive League of Ireland match was played on the then FIFA 2 Star, Oriel Park surface with Dundalk v Drogheda United in the 3rd Round of the FAI Cup. The game was televised on TG4 and Dundalk were at the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline.

The last time Dundalk lost an FAI Cup tie and got knocked out was back on the 15th of September 2014 when they were defeated at the Quarter Final stage by Shamrock Rovers. The final that year was between St Patricks Athletic and Derry City and that was the last time a team not featuring Cork City, Dundalk or Shamrock Rovers would contest the final.

Good Evening from Oriel Park, cup games have always been a special occasion for Dundalk fans, twelve times the cup has crossed over the Hill Street Bridge - a right of passage for some - on its way to nestle in the Dundalk boardroom. It is currently perched in the boardroom at present in the depths of this large stand at Oriel Park and Vinny Perth knows that it is the only realistic chance of silverware this season.