Hibernian cruised through to the quarter-final stages of the Tennent's Scottish Cup with a comfortable victory over Brechin at Easter Road.

Strikes by frontmen Sam Morrow and Garry O'Connor gave the Leith side a 2-0 half-time lead over the Bell's Second Division side who, despite their enthusiasm, were clearly out of their depth.

After the interval O'Connor bagged his second of the afternoon with a low drive and defender Gary Caldwell's looping header sealed a simple victory for the Edinburgh men who continue to impress in both league and cup.

With Derek Riordan and Morrow providing plenty of width for Hibs, Tony Mowbray's side were causing all sorts of problems for Brechin in the opening stages.

The hesitant visitors took their time to play their way into the game. In the 14th minute striker Paul Ritchie fired in a low 25-yard free-kick but Hibs keeper Simon Brown, seeing his first real action of the game, saved comfortably.

But in the 24th minute the home side eventually got the lead their superiority merited when defender Gary Smith sent Morrow clear on the right with an accurate long pass from inside his own half.

The young Irishman cleverly and confidently cut inside full-back Paul Deas 16 yards from goal and curled a left-footed shot past keeper Craig Nelson.

The visitors almost levelled a few moments later when Caldwell slipped, allowing Brechin midfielder Craig Winter to get a shot in but the former Hibs player's effort from the edge of the box went well wide.

The Angus men were certainly looking more confident as the first half wore on but they were stung in the 32nd minute when they fell further behind to a fine counter-attacking goal.

Defender Steven Whittaker's raking pass from deep found Riordan wide on the left and when the Scotland under-21 striker's low cross came into the six-yard box, O'Connor nipped ahead of defender David White to knock the ball in from close range.

Mowbray immediately replaced the injured Guillaume Beuzelin for Antonio Murray but the home side's rhythm was unhindered. As the half-time whistle approached they nearly scored a third but midfielder Dean Shiels' effort from 20 yards, after good work by Morrow, was dragged wide of the target.

Brechin threatened five minutes after the interval with a nice move between Kevin Byers and striker Steven Hampshire ended up with Charlie King firing in an angled shot which Hibs keeper Simon Brown did well to parry.

The went back on the attack and Riordan got on the end of a Caldwell cross to the back post but his header was weak, slipping past the upright.

But in the 57th minute the Easter Road side secured their place in the fourth round of the cup when the lively O'Connor grabbed his second of the afternoon.

Dean Shiels' cleverly-timed through ball beat the Brechin offside trap and although the Scotland international took a poor first touch, he recovered well to take the ball into the penalty area and slide the ball under Nelson.

Mowbray then brought on diminutive midfielder Jamie McCluskey for Morrow and it appeared just a matter of how many goals the home side would score and indeed they got their fourth in the 63rd minute.

A short corner on the left ended with Riordan pumping a high ball to the back post and Caldwell rose high above the Brechin defence to loop his header over Nelson.

The home side were on automatic pilot against the demoralised visitors who looked to referee Mike McCurry's final whistle for some respite.

O'Connor and McCluskey both had decent efforts in the final moments although the job was already done.

Teams

Hibernian Simon Brown, Whittaker, Caldwell, Smith, Ian Murray, Shiels (Fletcher 82), Beuzelin (Antonio Murray 33), Glass, Riordan, O'Connor, Morrow (McCluskey 60).

Subs Not Used: Andrew Reid, Orman.

Goals: Morrow 24, O'Connor 32, 57, Caldwell 63.

Brechin Nelson, Hamilton (Smith 69), David White, Walker, Deas, King (Strachan 90), Winter, Byers, Gibson (Johnson 61), Ritchie, Hampshire.

Subs Not Used: Hay, Blair White.

Att: 13,563

Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).