Caley Thistle exited the Scottish Cup at the Fifth Round stage following a 3-1 home defeat against Hibernian at the Caledonian Stadium.
The it was all square at the break but second-half goals from Myziane Maolida, Martin Boyle and Elie Youan sent Hibs into the next round with Aaron Doran grabbing a late consolation goal with virtually the last kick of the match.
Duncan Ferguson made two changes from the side which lost 1-0 to Queen’s Park last weekend as Sean McAllister and James Carragher came into the side for Danny Devine and Alex Samuel, who both missed out through injury.
It was a fairly even start and Hibernian were close to taking the lead after 10 minutes as Luke Amos’ effort was just past the post.
Caley Thistle had some good pressure of their own as James Carragher saw his low cross cut out by David Marshall after 14 minutes.
After 18 minutes, Mark Ridgers produced a fine save to keep out Eliezer Mayenda’s effort from about 20 yards.
Martin Boyle had the final real chance of a tight first-half as he was denied by a good block by Remi Savage.
Hibs made a double change at the break, bringing on Elie Youan and Dylan Levitt for Eliezer Mayenda and Luke Amos.
Hibs had the lead in tie after 54 minutes, through Myziane Maolida. The striker was received the ball on the edge of the box and shot and his effort deflected off Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen and over Mark Ridgers.
Mark Ridgers was called into action after 60 minutes as he denied Dylan Levitt with a great save down to his left hand side after the Hibs midfielder had recieved the ball from Myziane Maolida’s pass.
Caley Thistle went in search of an equaliser and James Carragher went on a good run through the middle and found Aribim Pepple in the box but the striker’s effort was wide after 65 minutes.
Hibs pressed for a second goal as winger Elie Youan saw his effort saved by Mark Ridgers while Martin Boyle fired an effort just wide of the mark after 67 minutes.
After 72 minutes, Cammy Kerr went close to finding an equaliser for Caley Thistle. He met Max Anderson’s ball in the box and the right-back’s header from a tight angle hit the top of the crossbar and bounced behind for a goal kick.
Hibs got their second after 78 minutes as Martin Boyle put them in full command of the tie. Boyle pounced on a mistake from Morgan Boyes as the Caley Thistle defender couldn’t clear Nectarios Triantis’ long ball and the Australian international went round Mark Ridgers clean through to double the visitors’ lead.
Hibs added a third in the 89th minute as Emiliano Marcondes’ pass found Martin Boyle down the right-hand side and his ball found Elie Youan in the middle for a tap in to make it 3-0.
Deep into added time Caley Thistle got a consolation goal through Aaron Doran. The forward met Cammy Kerr’s great ball into the box and finished on the volley superbly to pull a goal back. However, that would be the final kick of the match as Hibs progressed to the Quarter Finals.