ANOTHER close call and another extra-time victory. One thing that has to be said about this crop of Dublin U21 footballers is they have the stomach for a fight after they edged out Carlow 0-14 to 0-13 following extra-time in an absorbing contest at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, yesterday.

Dublin progress to the Leinster decider where they will face Westmeath on Sunday, April 4, in Parnell Park.

The ending of yesterday's exciting duel was not without controversy as referee Joe Curley needed a Garda escort from the field as the home side felt aggrieved when Brendan Murphy was not awarded a free in front of goal in the final seconds of extra time.

Carlow manager Luke Dempsey did not hide his anger afterwards.

"It was an awful refereeing decision," he fumed. Before stating that it was just one of many decisions which went against his side over the course of the contest.

Man-of-the-match Brendan Murphy was flabbergasted: "I caught the ball cleanly and was in a dangerous position. I don't know why the ref would think I'd just fall to the ground."

Although there wasn't anything like the poor shooting which dogged the quarter-final win over Louth, the Dubs were still guilty of missing a lot of chances, particularly in the second half. Indeed, it took a last-gasp point from super-sub Barry O'Rorke to force the extra 20 minutes, something which didn't escape the attention of selector Shane O'Hanlon.

EQUALISER

"I felt we should have put that game away in the second half of normal time, and we certainly shouldn't have had to chase an equaliser," O'Hanlon said.

But the St Vincent's clubman was also quick to point out that his side didn't have it all their own way in the opening 60 minutes.

"On the other hand we were very lucky to be only a point down at the break. Vincent Whelan made two excellent saves," he added.

Indeed, the Barrowsiders came desperately close to claiming a famous victory and, in former Sydney Swans rookie Brendan Murphy, they had a player on the top of his game.

"He is just a fabulous footballer and he was the best player on the pitch by a long shot today," mused O'Hanlon.

For the 1,000-strong crowd present in Dr Cullen Park, they had a match to savour. Dublin settled quickly and employed a long-ball tactic into a two-man full-forward line containing Na Fianna's David Quinn and his Lucan Sarsfields namesake.

It was the Na Fianna version who raised the first white flag when he used his pace to breeze by his marker to fist the ball over. This was followed up by the Lucan Quinn, who sailed over a lovely left-footed effort.

Carlow got off the mark through David Bambrick but Dublin continued to have the better of the opening exchanges and Dean Rock, who had suffered with a virus the night before the game, opened his account with the first of his three frees.

But Murphy was soon to grow into the game and, in Darragh Foley, he had an able deputy as they completely dominated the midfield for the 20 minutes before half-time. Despite this, Dublin still managed to get scores on the board and also had a great goal chance when Gary Sweeney carved through the Carlow defence only to see his shot saved brilliantly by Pat Hughes.

Rock and Murphy exchanged scores before Sweeney and another Rock free edged the reigning provincial champions into a two-point lead. But it was to be their last score of the half as Carlow scored three points without reply.

A wonderful long-ranged free by Foley, along with a score apiece from Brendan Murphy and Denis Murphy, ensured the challengers held a 0-7 to 0-6 half-time lead.

Dublin proved to be a different side after the break and they controlled much of the second period. However, their wastefulness ensured they could never shake off their dogged opposition.

Na Fianna's Quinn hit the side-netting within seconds of the restart. Dublin wing-back Nicky Devereux was growing in influence and his blistering pace began to cause problems. It was his run through the heart of the defence that nearly resulted in the opening goal. His shot beat netminder Hughes but Jeffrey O'Donoghue made a sliding clearance to maintain his sides lead.

Quinn then found the equaliser as he clipped over from close range before Rock got his only score from play to put the Dubs back in front.

The sides traded two scores each entering the final 10 minutes, but Carlow grabbed two quick-fire points from Foley and sub Cathal O'Coughlan at the death, which looked like it would be enough to see them over the line.

Enter O'Rorke to get on the end of a flowing move to brilliantly equalise and force the extra time.

Dublin looked the more likely in the additional 20 minutes as they began to be more productive in front of goal, scoring three on the bounce to give them a two point half-time-in-extra-time lead after Murphy had put the Carlow men a point up. Dublin lost the influence of Devereux, however, as he was carried off after what looked a cynical challenge, and his fitness will be another headache for the Dubs.

Two Denis Murphy frees sandwiched another O'Rorke point in the second period of extra-time as the hosts tried to claw themselves back level. For Dublin it is a case of using the game a stepping stone to retaining their title, and selector O'Hanlon feels it will help to bring his charges on to the next level.

"Tough games like that will help to bring us on and we can look forward to a home draw in the final", added O'Hanlon.

- CADBURY'S LEINSTER U21FC SEMI-FINAL By Diarmuid Geraghty