Carlow and Dublin served up the game of the year so far in heavy conditions at Parnell Park last night, after a pulsating 90-plus minutes of football which, in the end, failed to produce a winner.
The Dublin management made a late change for the semi-final and opted to start Bryan Cullen in an experimental role at corner forward in place of the veteran Jason Sherlock, who starred against Westmeath last week.
Carlow began well, helped by some good defensive foraging from Padraig Bambrick, but they fell behind on the scoreboard as a live Dublin attack punished them.
Consistent pressure on the Carlow defence was eventually rewarded with a well-taken goal from Bernard Brogan but only after a shot from Cullen had bounced back off the crossbar.
Former captain Collie Moran was working effectively in defence for the hosts and launched attack after attack for Caffrey's charges who were rewarded with some good scores from the Brogan brothers up front.
Carlow were not as clinical as the hosts in front of the posts and had plenty of wayward shots in the opening quarter.
However they finished it on a positive note with a very scrappy goal. Corner forward Eric McCormack knocked the ball through to Paul Cashin but despite the intervention of Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton, the ball was fisted off the post and dribbled home by big midfielder John Murphy.
That 18th-minute score cut the deficit to three points and Carlow were certainly showing more urgency both in defence and attack.
They withstood a sustained period of pressure from the Dubs, who were persistent in creating scoring chances, but they were unable to convert their fluid attacking into scores.
The visitors' chances were more limited. A good move down the centre of the field saw the ball whipped into James Ryan but the defender-turned-forward was well marshalled by a physically stronger Dublin rearguard.
Alan and Bernard Brogan sent over quick points in first half injury-time for the Dubs' first scores for 23 minutes.
And the opening half ended on a very positive note for Paul Bealin's side with a solid double save from Carlow goalkeeper John Brennan, who was really the visitors' saviour in the opening half.
Brennan ensured that the gap stood at four points at the interval - Dublin led by 1-5 to 1-1 - despite the best efforts of Declan O'Mahony and Bernard Brogan.
Carlow began the second half in positive fashion with two well-taken scores from Eoin McCormack and Ray Walker.
Dublin began to get a bit uneasy in front of the posts with Bernard Brogan sending a close range free wide. It was evident that Carlow were not going to give up without a fight - an injection of pace resulted in points from half-time substitutes Patrick Walsh and midfielder Ray Walker.
Dublin waivered as they hit three wides in a two-minute spell and Carlow managed to levelled the tie for the first time at 1-5 apiece.
The reigning O'Byrne Cup champions regained the lead thanks to a Philip McMahon effort but Carlow were quick to respond and and Mark Carpenter was unlucky when his goal shot skimmed wide of the posts as the game entered the final quarter.
Bernard Brogan and McCormack traded pointed frees before Dublin stopper Cluxton was off target with a '45' as the Blues' wides tally reached twelve.
McCormack brought the sides level with his fourth point of the contest before the game spilled over into a 24-man mass brawl in the closing stages.
Carlow's Mark Carpenter and Dubs attacker Declan O'Mahony were both shown straight red cards following the incident, while Dublin substitute David Henry earned a yellow card for his involvement.
The momentum though was with Dublin who edged back in front thanks to a fourth point of the game from Bernard Brogan, five minutes from time.
However the sides were level for the third time following a well-struck effort from substitute Alan Curran and the large travelling support were sent into raptures as a third point from Walker put Carlow into the lead for the first time with two minutes left.
Stephen O'Shaughnessy levelled the contest for the fourth time right on 70 minutes. As extra-time loomed, there was one last chance for the home side to steal victory. However a last-gasp free from Cluxton dipped short of the target and extra-time was required.
Both sides returned to 15 players for the two added periods with Dublin beginning to show the urgency they were lacking for large chunks of the second half.
Paul Caffrey's men raced into a three-point lead with scores from substitute Graham Cullen, Bernard Brogan and Cullen before Carlow were gifted a goal chance but good defensive play from Niall O'Shea ensured John Murphy's shot was swept out for a '45'.
Drama followed when Alan Curran dangled the resulting kick into the goalmouth. Cluxton fouled the ball and a penalty was awarded to Carlow, with Ken Doyle and Derek Murray both shown yellow cards. It was Murray's second yellow of the contest as Dublin were once again reduced to 14 men.
Eric McCormack planted the penalty into the top right corner of the Dublin net to bring the sides level, before receiving a yellow card after a fracas on the edge of the square. The sides ended the opening period pf extra-time at 1-12 to 2-9.
Dublin regained the lead within 30 seconds of the restart thanks to a second point from Cullen. Carlow were not without their chances to equalise but McCormack watched a '45' drop short.
By now both sets of players and officials were beginning to tire and even referee Sean Carroll had to call an end to his involvement due to cramp.
The introduction of fresh blood for Carlow helped their cause immensely and they regained the lead thanks to points from Ryan and substitute Mark Nolan, but there was no doubting the Dubs and Denis Bastick squared up the game for the sixth time.
Time looked like it had ran out for Carlow as Cullen kicked a likely winner in the 92nd-minute, but there was still time for McCormack to score his fifth point of the contest and ensure a replay for next Sunday in Carlow (throw-in 2pm).
Dublin: S Cluxton; N O'Shea, R McConnell, S O'Shaughnessy (0-1); P McMahon (0-1), C Moran, P Brogan; P Flynn, E Fennell; D Lally, J O'Brien (0-1, 0-1f), B Brogan (1-5, 0-3f); B Cullen (0-2), D O'Mahony, A Brogan (0-2).
Subs used: D Murray for P Brogan (23 mins), D Henry for Moran (39), D Bastick (0-1) for Flynn (50), P Casey for Lally (60), G Cullen (0-2) for O'Brien (67), P Burke for B Brogan (75), D Lally for O'Shaughnessy (86).
Carlow: J Brennan; E Doyle, J Hayden, P Bambrick; P Cashin, R Sinnott, J Ryan (0-1); J Murphy (1-0), K Doyle; JJ Smith, R Walker (0-3), M Carpenter; S Rea, B Carbery, E McCormack (1-5, 1-0 pen, 0-5f).
Subs used: N Barrett for Rea (16 mins), A Curran (0-1) for Cashin (20), P Walsh (0-1) for K Doyle (half-time), S Gannon for Carbery (42), B Kelly for Barrett (58), M Nolan (0-1) for Walker (85), J Amond for J Murphy (87).
