A GAME of four halves at Dundalk's St Brigid's Park on a pleasant Saturday afternoon. A rocky roller-coaster ride for the young Dubs, who went the extra yard in extra-time before prevailing 1-14 to 1-8.

Now they'll prepare for an away St Patrick's Day Cadbury's Leinster U21 Football Championship semi-final date against the winners of the Carlow-Kilkenny tie.

Louth could have nicked it. Dublin hit 21 wides and they also had defender Darragh Nelson straight red carded seven minutes into the second half.

"I thought that was a harsh decision," judged Dublin boss Jim Gavin. "All I saw was a Louth man running into Darragh and they both ended up on the ground.

"But, be that as it may, we had to cope with it, and I thought the lads did that very well. I felt we deserved the win in the end."

The big home following had much to respond to. A famous day was within Louth's finger-tips. The Wee County hasn't won the Leinster U21 Championship title since 1981.

"Beating Dublin would have been a great lift for the county. It's just one of those things. We never seem to get that bit of luck you need," reflected Louth manager Kieran Maguire.

"I couldn't have asked anymore of them. They are a great bunch of fellas. They give you everything. We couldn't be any prouder of them.

"We played a lot better in the second half. We had our chances. It's a game we should have won in normal time."

Dublin, last year's Leinster U21 winners, dominated much of the first-half possession as they attacked the clubhouse end. But they had nine wides going in for the tea.

Yet they still led at the break, 1-2 to 0-4, Dean Rock palming the ball to the top left-hand corner from close distance in the fifth minute.

Shortly before that, following a lovely move, Gary Sweeney struck the base of Louth's post, while Rock, with another palmed effort, wasn't far away from a second basket on 23 minutes.

But the mountain grew steeper thereafter. And the 14 men were to concede a brilliantly taken 41st minute goal from Jim McEneaney, son of the ex-senior chief, Eamon, who was watching from the bank.

Suddenly, Louth were in the lead, and they were on the up. The Blues looked in trouble. With eight minutes to go it was 1-6 to 1-3 for the hosts following sweetly struck frees from McEneaney and the impressive midfielder James Califf.

The Dubs hit precious points from Gavin McIntyre and the captain, Jonny Cooper. But Barry O'Hehir sent over another score for Louth with only a minute left.

It looked like being their day. Rock replied with a fine strike from play and, with the match in injury time, it was captain Cooper who stood tallest of all to loft over a cracking equaliser from wide on the right -- 1-7 each.

Dublin were back up to 15 players for the extra-time. They brought James McCarthy back on.

Returns from Sweeney and Rock had Dublin ahead by 1-9 to 1-7 at half-time in extra-time, having played into the clubhouse end.

Louth 'keeper Craig Lynch also made a remarkable save with his feet to deny Lucan's David Quinn, who made a big impression when he was introduced.

It was back to just a point between them when Paraic Smith converted a free, and then the ground held it's breath as O'Hehir got through on goal only to see his shot nudge the outside of the right-hand post.

After that let off, Dublin took over, sailing for home with five unanswered points, three of them coming from Lucan's Quinn, plus one apiece from Rock and McIntyre.

"This squad have a fantastic never-say-die attitude and they showed that. They have enormous pride in the county shirt," remarked boss Gavin.

"Our back six played extremely well. It was a big point from Jonny (Cooper) that brought us to extra-time. And he's also just after winning a Sigerson Cup medal with DCU.

"We realise we have a lot of work to do. We didn't have our shooting boots on, but somedays they all go over the bar and somedays they don't.

"That's just part of it. What is certain is the attitude and application of the players. That's all we ask for," added Gavin.

- Niall Scully