Hearts 4 Auchinleck Talbot 0
Auchinleck Talbot's heady William Hill Scottish Cup adventure came to a shuddering halt at Tynecastle as Hearts claimed a comfortable 4-0 win over the junior outfit. Tommy Sloan's class of 2019 are already assured their place in Beechwood Park folklore after defeating local rivals Ayr 1-0 in the fourth round, but the challenge of the Jambos proved insurmountable for the underdogs.
Hearts boss Craig Levein showed Auchinleck the utmost respect by naming a strong starting XI and the hosts never looked like succumbing to an upset, with Christophe Berra giving them a lead with just 10 minutes on the clock.
Strikes from Demi Mitchell and Steven MacLean effectively secured the Jambos' place in the quarter-finals prior to the interval, before Aidan Keena emerged from the bench to bag his first ever senior goal for Hearts.
Auchinleck famously came within a whisker of securing a draw when they last visited Gorgie, succumbing to a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat courtesy of an 84th-minute Gordon Smith effort in 2012.
The Bot were roared on by around 1,800 fans as they returned to Tynecastle aiming to spring one of the biggest shocks in Scottish Cup history - but they saw those slim hopes ended during a professional first-half display from the hosts.
Berra broke the deadlock with his maiden goal of the campaign, rising highest to head a fine inswinging free-kick by Olly Lee beyond the despairing dive of Andy Leishman.
Levein's men wasted no time doubling their advantage as Mitchell cut in from the left flank and fired home a low drive from the edge of the box, albeit via a telling deflection off the unfortunate Neil McPherson.
Leishman made a superb fingertip save to deny MacLean following a slick through-ball from John Souttar - but the goalkeeper was unable to hold back the maroon tide as they made it three before the interval.
On-loan Manchester United man Mitchell turned provider as he collected a Lee corner, surged into the box and fired an inch-perfect delivery across the face of goal for MacLean to prod his sixth goal of the season over the line.
Steven Naismith and Uche Ikpeazu both shot narrowly wide after the break, while Leishman parried a Lee free-kick to safety as the Jambos attempted to add some gloss to the scoreline.
They finally made it four in the dying moments when Mitchell, excellent throughout, found Keena in the box and the Irish youngster should superb composure to shrug off two challenges and slam a clinical finish past Leishman.
And Auchinleck's hopes of at least returning west with a consolation goal were dashed when a neat close-range finish from Stephen Wilson was judged to be offside by assistant referee Sean Carr