Dunboyne made the most of their reprieve gained in normal time to outlast Longwood in the second Ted Murtagh SHC quarter-final at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday evening.

Dunboyne  1-19
Longwood  2-14
after extra time

Neil Hackett scored 10 points for Dunboyne and the most crucial one, in stoppage time at the end of the game, left it 0-13-all and forced extra time.

The award of that free seemed a tad harsh on Longwood. However, they didn't help their cause with a couple of instances of dissent in the additional 20 minutes.

Scores were tied 11 times over the 80 minutes, twice in extra time. The opening goal arrived in the ninth minute of the first period of extra time. Chris Cusack netted with support from Michael Burke and Anthony Healy to leave Longwood leading by 1-13 to 0-15.

Within seconds Dunboyne were back in front after the Michael O'Grady pointed and Johnny Gorry's men went on to lead by 0-17 to 1-13 at the break in extra time.

When O'Grady goaled within 45 seconds of the second period of extra time, Longwood looked a beaten docket. To their credit they were back on level terms by the fifth minute when top scorer Anthony Healy goaled having cut in from the left at the town end.

That was as good as it got for Rory Maguire's men as Dunboyne closed in on a semi-final date with Trim courtesy of points from John Watters and O'Grady.

The second part of the Pairc Tailteann double bill didn't match opening game for intensity, but it simmered into an engrossing contest where a slicker Dunboyne eventually saw off a spirited Longwood outfit.

The teams were level eight times before Neil Hackett's stoppage time leveller left it 0-13-each after the hour.

Playing towards the old swimming pool end, last year's runners-up were first to show with midfielder Eoin Lynch pointing inside 17 seconds. An Anthony Healy fourth minute free doubled Longwood's advantage.

Dunboyne responded with six scores on the spin. Neil Hackett got the sequence going with three points in a row - one free, one sideline and one from play to leave it 0-3 to 0-2 eight minutes in.

The scoring rate dropped as Dunboyne doubled their tally by the 23rd minute when Hackett landed his second free. In between Michael Dunne registered before assisting Barry Watters with a deft flick, one of the highlights of the half.

Longwood reasserted themselves in the latters stages of the half. Nominal corner-backs Damien Dixon and Joe Stenson pointed for last year's runners-up. Aaron Ennis added what proved to be the last score before the break in the 25th minute.

Within three minutes of the resumption the scores were tied for the second time when Anthony Healy landed a free. For the remainder of normal time there was never more than a point between the sides.

Longwood regained the lead they held briefly in the opening quarter with Ryan Moore's long range effort in the 36th minute.

Having been tied just once in the opening period, scores were tied nine times in the second-half.  There was never more than a point in it during that time. Dunboyne led three times in the third quarter. Longwood matched that in the final quarter but were unable to sustain their advantage to the finish.

Dunboyne - Stephen Clince; Mark O'Connor, Niall Watters, Sean Moran; Fergal O'Neill, Sean McGrath (0-2), Darren Dunne;Neil Hackett (0-10, 7 fs, 1 65, 1 sideline), Michael Dunne (0-1); John Watters (0-1), Barry Watters (0-2), Sean Quigley; Michael O'Grady (1-3), Stephen Moran, Niall Smyth. Alan Watters for Quigley (ht), Tomas O' Connor for Smyth (49). Extra-time - Paul Fagan for McGrath (68), Danny Kane for McWeeney (79).

Longwood - Alan Ennis; Joe Stenson (0-1), Ray Dorran, Damien Dixon (0-1); Darragh Maguire, Damien Healy, Nathan O'Neill; Karl Ennis, Eoin Lynch (0-1); Chris Cusack (1-0), Michael Burke, Ryan Moore (0-1); Aaron Ennis (0-4), Anthony Healy (1-6, 0-6fs), Enda Dixon. Subs - Coran Byrne for E Dixon (ht), Chris Lynch for Maguire (37).

Referee - Richard Morris (Blackhall Gaels)

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