Wayside Celtic 0 Killester Utd 1: As disappointed as Wayside will feel at not having matched last year's run, when they forced Bohemians to a third-round replay, the Kilternan club can now, at least, focus on Wednesday's Leinster Senior League title decider against Malahide without distraction.
Killester, themselves riding high in the AUL Premier Division, will now have loftier ambitions as they eagerly await the third-round cup draw as the only non-league outfit still left in the competition.
For much of the game, though, they were forced to soak up pressure from the home side but nevertheless stayed focused, securing their ticket with a 93rd-minute winner.
Neither side entirely got to grips with the occasion, with rushed play dictating the make-up of both teams from the outset.
The two defences turned in composed performances but the manner in which midfield was, all too often, bypassed in search of a telling ball forward ensured disjointed play throughout.
That said, on a number of occasions Wayside broke in behind the visiting defence and winger Paddy Kavanagh was keen to probe at every opportunity.
More often than not he was fouled, but on one occasion, having skilfully got inside Andy Fitzsimons, he raced in on goal only to find the side netting, albeit from a tight angle.
Wayside applied more pressure before half-time and their impressive centre half Wayne Callaghan saw a well struck effort from distance go narrowly over after his initial free-kick rebounded off the Killester wall.
But credit must go to the visitors, who became more of an attacking force after the break. Collectively they improved in every department and the manner in which they set about their hosts was noticeably more structured than what had gone beforehand.
Indeed, they should have capitalised on Damien O'Neill's 57th-minute defensive mistake but striker Mick Kehoe, having latched onto the loose ball, shot badly wide with only goalkeeper Robbie O'Dowd to beat.
Sensing their opponents' surge in confidence, Wayside, in turn, opted for a fresh approach and regained a firmer foothold in midfield, thus restricting Killester's time in possession.
Their impressive full back David Gill and winger Alan Pratt found the left flank a particularly rewarding outlet later on in the game but, despite their best efforts, a finishing touch from those inside them was always lacking.
Just as the contest looked set for a replay, Kehoe atoned for his earlier miss by steering Killester into the next round.
Substitutes Ciarán McLoughlin and Thomas Keenan combined and the latter shot hard and low at O'Dowd. The goalkeeper made a smart save but could only push the ball into the path of Kehoe, who tucked home to the unguarded net.
WAYSIDE CELTIC: O'Dowd; Simpson, Callaghan, D O'Neill, Gill; Kavanagh, Hyland, Lucie, Pratt; McHugh (Dunne, 79 mins), J O'Neill.
KILLESTER UNITED: L Murphy; S Murphy, Stanley, Broderick; A Murphy (84 mins), Kehoe, Donnery, Graham, Fitzsimons; McGrath (Dunne, 13), Connors (Keenan, 72).
Referee: C Fitzgerald (Dublin).
