St Vincent's (Dublin) 3-09 Garrycastle (Westmeath) 1-10
Tomas Quinn came to the rescue again for All-Ireland holders St Vincent's with 2-02 and a crucial late goal to secure their AIB Leinster club football final spot.
The back to back Dublin champions looked good value for a big win when they opened up a 10-point lead late in the first-half at Parnell Park.
But a Des Dolan-inspired revival saw Garrycastle dramatically recover to level terms mid-way through the second half.
The former Westmeath All-Star was inspired and dragged his side off the canvas with 1-05 overall.
But they couldn't push on in the final quarter and were outscored by 1-03 to 0-01 in the last 15 minutes.
Their third goal was a converted penalty by veteran star Quinn who also kicked an insurance point at the death to secure their final clash with Rhode on 12 December.
It was all so comfortable for Vincent's early on as they carved out chance after chance. Their opening score was a brilliantly taken goal by Quinn when he soloed in from the left wing and placed the ball in the top right corner.
Shortly after, Shane Carthy kicked a point and the Marino men were up and running with a 1-01 to no score advantage.
Carthy would go on to shoot their second goal in the 25th minute and, like Quinn's goal, it also came from the left as he raced clear and applied a low finish.
But Vins were guilty of going for goals too often. Gavin Burke dragged one chance just wide while Ciaran Dorney blasted another off the crossbar.
Things remained positive for them when they moved 2-06 to 0-02 ahead with a rare point from captain and Dublin defender Ger Brennan.
But Garrycastle finally came alive with four points in a row before the restart.
James Dolan hit two of them while Des Dolan and Justin Barrett grabbed the others.
Garrycastle still trailed 2-06 to 0-06 at half-time but had wrestled back vital momentum and restarted with gusto in the second-half.
Des Dolan picked off a stunning 1-02 without reply before a Michael Monaghan score that levelled the game against all expectation.
Dolan's goal was a brilliant effort. Garrycastle won back possession following a short Vincent's kick-out and Dolan sprinted clear of Brennan before blasting a low shot to the bottom right of the net.
It should have been the launch pad for a strong Garrycastle finish but they couldn't maintain the onslaught.
In fact, they only scored one more point, a Dolan converted free, after Monaghan's 42nd-minute leveller.
The game was ultimately decided in the 56th minute when Quinn slotted a third goal for Vincent's from the penalty spot. Ruari Treanor was pulled down by the Garrycastle 'keeper and Quinn dispatched the spot kick low and right.
St Vincent's: M Savage, H Gill, J Curley, K Bonnie, B Egan, G Brennan (0-02), M Concarr, E Fennell, D Murphy, G Burke (0-02), T Quinn (2-02, 0-1f, 1-0p), S Carthy (1-01), R Treanor, D Connolly (0-02, 1f), C Dorney.
Subs: Cameron Diamond for Dorney, Cormac Diamond for Murphy, T Diamond for Burke, M Loftus for Fennell, S Byrne for Brennan (b/c).
Garrycastle: C Mullin, M McCallon, J Gaffey, A Fox, K Henson, J Donohoe, G McCallon, J Barrett (0-01), A Browne, D Rushe, D Dolan (1-05, 3f), M Guiheen (0-01), M Monaghan (0-01), G Dolan, J Dolan (0-02).
Subs: A Gardiner for Rushe, D O'Shaughnessy for Browne, J Duignan for Gardiner, S O'Connell for Mullin (b/c), C Cosgrove for Monaghan.
Referee: J Hickey (Carlow).
