Four superb points by Dublin's Ciaran O'Hare brought this O'Byrne Cup semi-final at Drogheda to extra time, when an easy Louth victory looked on the cards. Louth had led by five points early in the second half, when Dublin were reduced to 14 men - Ciaran Whelan was sent off for a second bookable offence.

O'Hare's scores brought Dublin level coming up to the end of normal time, and Declan Darcy could have brought them victory, but his attempt to take a point fell just short.

Louth again set the pace early in extra time, with two points from Alan Doherty and one from substitute Pat Butterly, but Dublin again fought back, points from Darcy (two) and O'Hare bringing them level. Louth finally pulled away in the second half of extra time when Mark Stanfield grabbed two points and Doherty added a third.

Louth: N O'Donnell; B Phillips, C Nash, D Brennan; A Hoey (0-1), G O'Neill, C Grimes; K Reilly, S Melia (0-2); M Farrelly, J Donaldson (0-2), M Stanfield (0-4); A Doherty (0-6), P Kelly, J Moroney (0-1). Subs: O McDonnell for Grimes, P Butterly (0-1) for Donnelly, E Carr for Moroney.

Dublin: D Byrne; P Christie, D Harrington, J McGee; K Barr, I Robertson, E Heary; D Maxwell, C Whelan (0-1); B Stynes, D Darcy (0-5), P Ward; C O'Hare (0-8), R Boyle, J Gavin. Subs: D Farrell for Maxwell, P Bealin for Stynes, D O'Brien for Boyle.

Referees: S McCormack and J Smith.