It took extra time to separate these two very evenly-matched sides in this marathon Leinster Colleges SFC A quarter-final at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, yesterday.

In an opening half in which Kildare referee Michael Monaghan sent off Good Counsel midfielder Kieran Kennedy for two bookable offences and issued four other yellow cards, the play tended to be overzealous.

A half-time confrontation between Good Counsel trainer Kevin Kehoe and referee Monaghan, led to Kehoe being banished to the terraces for the balance of play.

At half-time St Mel's led 1-6 to 0-5, their 27th minute goal from right full forward Kevin Smith coming at the end of the best move of the half.

Good Counsel, All-Ireland champions in 1999, were on fire for the opening eight minutes of the second half when they kicked four unanswered points from Gary O'Grady (two) Adam O'Loughlin and Lloyd Colfer to draw level.

The man who finally turned the game St Mel's way was substitute Paul Melly who kicked four great points from play with his left foot in that second half of extra-time.

ST MEL'S: G Evans; D Davis, D McNeaney, S Dorrigan; P Smith, S Lynch (0-4), D McRory (0-1); T Murphy, D Smith; E Ward, G Kelly (0- 1), T Glendenning; K Smith (1-0), D Barden, W Murray (1-6). Subs: D Mannion for Dorrigan (inj); M Rafferty (0-1) for Murphy; H Gibbons (1-0) for McNeaney; P Melly (0-4) for Ward; E Brogan for Glendenning and E Williams for Kelly.

GOOD COUNSEL: S Dunphy; R Corcoran, S Doyle, L O'Connor; J Delaney, A O'Loughlin (0-1), T O'Sullivan; D Bradley, K Kennedy; G O'Grady (0-11), K Deely (0-3), N Collins (0- 2); T Cooper, K Doyle (1-0), L Colfer (0-1). Subs: J O'Hanlon for O'Connor; T Hendrick (0- 1) for Cooper; Cooper for Colfer.

Referee: M Monaghan (Kildare).