Down 2-16 Dublin 2-14 Underdogs Down put a nightmare few weeks behind them when an injury-time goal from midfielder Niall McParland gave them a dramatic victory over Dublin in yesterday's ESB All-Ireland MFC quarter-final at Kingspan Breffni Park. The game had to be rescheduled from August 1 because of a swine 'flu scare in the Mourne County camp, but Mark Turley's charges showed their battling qualities as they set up a semi-final clash with Mayo. They got off to the perfect start when Robbie White kicked them in front after just 20 seconds, but Leinster champions Dublin hit back with a fourth minute goal from Darragh Stapleton, who brilliantly lobbed Down 'keeper James Deeny. Stapleton was outstanding throughout and certainly didn't deserve to finish on the losing side after scoring 1-10. Cyril Kevlihan's side continued to put the Mourne defence under pressure with scores from Paul Hudson, Fergal Walsh and Stapleton keeping them in front. Points from Ross McGarry and Matthew Bagnall at the opposite end kept Down in touch before they regained the lead in the 28th minute when full forward McGarry pounced on a handling error by Dublin 'keeper David Downey to finish to the net. The Dubs bounced back with a brace of Stapleton points, sandwiching a McGarry effort, as the sides went into the break level at 1-8 apiece. Down began the second half strongly, hitting five of the opening six points to take a 1-13 to 1-9 lead with Chris Clarke, Kevin McClorey and Caolan Mooney all on target. But Dublin refused to give up and they regained parity in the 58th minute thanks to substitute Philip Ryan's low drive to the net. It got better for the Metropolitans when Stapleton scored two magnificent stoppage-time points from play in reply to a long-range McGarry free, but in a dramatic final twist, midfielder McParland took a Mooney pass before drilling home the winning goal with the last kick of the game. Down - J Deeny; R Doran, F McEvoy, D O'Hanlan (0-1); K McClorey (0-1) , C McClean, P Boyle; K Quinn, N McParland (1-0); C Clarke (0-3, 2f), R White (0-1), C Mooney (0-3); D McKibben (0-1), R McGarry (1-3, 2f), M Bagnall (0-2). Subs - R O'Hare (0-1) for McKibben (34), M Haughey for Clarke (37), J McClean for Doran (46). Dublin - D Downey; K O'Brien, F Carney, S Swords; E Keogh, J Kelly, G Seaver; C Reddin, D Byrne; F Walsh (0-1), G Sweeney (0-1), D Stapleton (1-10, 5f); P Hudson (0-2) , C Carr, F Duffy. Subs - M Schutte for C Carr (ht), C O'Brien for F Duffy (37), D Murphy for P Hudson (41), P Ryan (1-0) for D Byrne (56), N O'Dea for E Keogh (56). Ref - R O'Donnell (Donegal) Tweet

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