McParland has last word for Down

ALL-IRELAND MFC QUARTER-FINAL Down 2-16 Dublin 2-14 : A LAST-MINUTE goal by Down’s Niall McParland was enough to dash Dublin…

ALL-IRELAND MFC QUARTER-FINAL Down 2-16 Dublin 2-14: A LAST-MINUTE goal by Down's Niall McParland was enough to dash Dublin's hopes at Breffni Park on Saturday.

Dublin goalkeeper David Downey could only watch on as McParland’s deflected shot drifted into the net to cap a dramatic win for the beaten Ulster finalists.

Down were forced to play catch-up for most of the first half with Darragh Stapletongoal giving Dublin an early boost.

The Ulster lads hung in there though and a 28th minute goal by Ross McGarry got them to level terms, 1-8 apiece, at the interval.

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Down then forged their way into a four-point lead but a Philip Ryan goal looked to have booked Dublin’s passage until McParland’s intervention.

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, two frees), R White (0-1), C Mooney (0-3); D McKibben (0-1), R McGarry (1-3, two frees), M Bagnall (0-2). Subs; R O'Hare (0-1)for D McKibben (34 mins), M Haughey for C Clarke (37 mins), J McClean for R Doran (inj, 46 mins).

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, five frees); P Hudson (0-2), C Carr, F Duffy. Subs: M Schutte for C Carr (half-time), C O'Brien for F Duffy (37 mins), D Murphy for P Hudson (41 mins), P Ryan (1-0)for D Byrne (56 mins), N O'Dea for E Keogh (56th).

Referee: R O'Donnell(Donegal).

Next up . . .In the semi-finals, Armagh and Kerry meet next Sunday. Down play Mayo the following Sunday.