Final Score: Dunboyne 3:17 (4f) Wolfe Tones 2:21 (13f, 1X'65)

If you were looking for a cracking game of hurling to kick off All Ireland week then CP1 this evening was the place to be. It took 20 minutes of Extra Time before the visiting team claimed victory with what was the last puck of the game in an enthralling Div2 League semi final.

Wolfe Tones were quickest off the mark and went one up in the first minute. Neil O'Connor levelled matters 3 minutes later but 2 more from placed balls restored the visitors lead and some. Joel Mangan (free) and Charlie Gallagher brought parity again but Tones responded in kind to put a bit of daylight between the teams on the 15th minute mark with a pointed free and the first goal of the game. (0:03 to 1:04). Over the next 11 minutes both teams kept the ref busy with score updates. Gallagher got another 4 points and Mangan one, which were countered by 2 more placed balls and a second goal from the visitors. (0:08 to 2:06). But the home team were to finish the half strong. Harry Clarke-Murphy pilfered a goal in the 28th minute and Mangan pointed another free 60 seconds later. This brought the 1st half to a close, draw game, on Dunboyne 1:09 (2f) Wolfe Tones 2:06 (4f, 1x'65)

The second half was 3 minutes old when Tones hit the first point but the St Peters boys responded in kind. Clark-Murphy bagged his second major of the game followed by 2 from play off the sticks of Shay Coone and Mangan. It was the team in purple's time now to launch a come back, which they did with 4 points on the bounce between the 7th and 17th minutes (2f) (2:11 to 2:11). Mangan scored another from a placed ball before Neil O'Connor got a smashing point out on the right wing with a super touch on the hurl followed by a sweet strike. Gallagher got his 6th point of the game 2 minutes later to leave the score on 23 minutes: 2:14 to 2:11.

But yet again the visitors responded with 4 more points without reply (3f) to nudge them one ahead on 30 minutes. But Mangan nailed a tough free from out on the left to tie the game just before the full time whistle. The game had to finish tonight so extra time was on the cards.

Tired bodies during the first 10 minutes of extra time was reflected in the scoring with only one point registered, to Wolfe Tones. The Purple and Gold also got the first 2 points of the second half to put 3 between the teams and the large home support felt that we were running out of time. But we needn't have worried! Cillian Cunningham, now operating at midfield, got the point of the match after a bit of wizardry where he twisted the blood of a few Wolfe Tones defenders before striking off his left. Tones countered again with a well taken point before the impish Harry Clarke-Murphy completed his hat-trick in the 8th minute, to leave the sides level yet again on Dunboyne 3:16 to Tonnes 2:19. Evan Murphy had a goal chance cleared off the line before the visitors went one up again from another placed ball in the final minute of extra time and it looked curtains only for Gallagher to score his 7th point of the game after being set up by Daragh Harkin.

It certainly looked like we were heading for penalties but Wolfe Tones were awarded a free 45 yards out straight in front the goal. The free, it has to be said, was certainly on the softer side, but non-the-less, the Wolfe Tones full forward, who accounted for 0:17 (14f) of his sides total tonight, split the posts yet again. It was a gut wrenching way for the brave Dunboyne team to loose but they can be immensely proud of the way they battled to the bitter end. Wolfe Tones continue on to the final next week where they will face Boardsmill/Rathmoylon. The Dunboyne lads will now head into the championship full of confidence, while a host of the stars from tonight will be togging out in the Div1 football final this coming Monday night in Pairc Tailteann, where they will meet St Colmcille's for the 3rd year in a row in the minor League decider. Best of Luck to all the team and management.

Team: Daniel Slevin; Pierce Hayes; Cillian Cunningham (0:01); Tadgh Brennan; James McCarthy; Eoghan McDonald; Rory Lynch; Joel Mangan (0:6, 4f); Shay Coone (0:01); Evan Murphy; Charlie Gallagher (0:07); Neil O'Connor (0:02); Daragh Harkin; Harry Clarke-Murphy (3:00); Nyles Ledwidth;