Thomas Sowunmi grabbed his first goal for Hibernian to fire them into the semi-finals of the Tennent's Scottish Cup.

The Hungary international, who signed as a free agent this month, netted the winner at Queen of the South after the home side's John O'Neill had cancelled out David Murphy's opener.

The hard-fought win allowed Hibernian to take another step towards Hampden in May, having already booked their place in next month's CIS Insurance Cup final with Kilmarnock.

Ivan Sproule was restored to the Hibs starting line-up after serving a suspension last week against Dundee United and Michael Stewart was promoted from the bench.

Shelton Martis and Lewis Stevenson were both sacrificed, meaning they had to settle for substitute roles at Palmerston.

Queen of the South also made changes following their 3-0 win over Airdrie United last week.

Steve Tosh was ruled out with anterior cruciate ligament damage and Stevie Murray was cup-tied, meaning O'Neill and Willie Gibson were drafted into the team.

The last time Hibernian won the Scottish Cup was back in 1902 and, on the basis of today's first-half performance, it is easy to see why.

The SPL side should have exerted their authority on the tie right from the outset. Instead, they were frustrated by a stubborn Queen of the South defence.

In fact, it was the home side who had the first real chance of the game when Jamie Adams was tripped by Chris Hogg 25 yards out.

Neil Scally took the free-kick but fired well over the crossbar, failing to trouble goalkeeper Simon Brown.

Hibs were then awarded a set-piece of their own for Scally's tug on Michael Stewart's shirt but Murphy's effort was easily cleared by the Queens defence.

At the other end, Gibson fired just over as both teams pushed for the opener.

Goalscoring opportunities were few and far between early on but Hibs had a chance when a clearance broke kindly to Stewart on the edge of the area only for his long, low effort to deflect a yard wide of target.

The home side were undeterred and Brown was then called into action to smother a decent Gibson effort.

The breakthrough eventually came when Hibs took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Scally stood off Murphy, allowing him to unleash a 30-yard drive, which nestled just inside the right-hand post.

The second half was less than two minutes old when Queen of the South hauled themselves back onto level terms.

An inch-perfect Jamie McQuilken cross found O'Neill in front of goal and he nodded home from eight yards, leaving Brown with no chance.

But Hibs had swapped Steven Fletcher for Sowunmi at the interval and the substitution proved to be inspired when they had their noses in front again after 51 minutes.

Abdessalam Benjelloun was the provider with a cross from the left and Sowunmi attempted to connect for the header.

The ball appeared to come off his shoulder instead but fell over the line all the same and the end result was all that mattered for Hibs.

Hibs were keen to put the tie beyond their hosts and Murphy almost did just that with a superb curling free-kick that was just touched to safety by goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald.

However, Queens were unwilling to make it easy for Hibs and Brown was called into action to block an Andy Barrowman shot, before Adams sent the rebound flashing across the face of goal and wide.

In the end, there was to be no cup shock at Palmerston as the Easter Road club booked their place in the last four.

Teams:

Queen of South MacDonald, Taton, Jim Thomson, Lauchlan,McQuilken, Scally, Adams, O'Neill (Weir 73), Gibson,O'Connor (Barrowman 61), Dobbie.

Subs Not Used: Corr, Robertson, Henderson.

Booked: Taton, O'Neill.

Goals: O'Neill 48.

Hibernian Simon Brown, Whittaker, Jones,Benjelloun (Lynch 82), Murphy, Sproule, Stewart (Stevenson 53),Beuzelin, Scott Brown, Fletcher (Sowunmi 45), Hogg.

Subs Not Used: Grof, Martis.

Booked: Beuzelin.

Goals: Murphy 45, Sowunmi 51.

Att: 6,400

Ref: S Dougal (Scotland).