Dublin 1-15 Carlow 2-12:Given the bitter sting of recent temperatures it felt positively balmy in Parnell Park last night, the first hint perhaps that summer is closer than it may appear. Given Dublin's football ambitions for that same summer this wasn't the result they were looking for.

A replay against Carlow, having been forced into extra time, clearly represents a step back on the steamrolling act of their last two performances here in Parnell Park - but then Dublin can't afford to have too many complaints as they could just as easily have lost.

While the replay date has yet be confirmed by the Leinster Council, it means Sunday's scheduled final against Longford is sure to be postponed. Naturally none of this Dublin team would dare suggest they were taking the O'Byrne Cup too seriously. Yet the way Carlow had them digging deep for most of the second half, and extra-time, won't rest too easily on the mind of manager Paul Caffrey.

What Dublin certainly hadn't banked on was being level on 60 minutes, raising the temperature at Parnell Park even further. At that point the game overheated, with a brief fracas resulting in a straight red card for Dublin's Declan O'Mahony and Carlow's Mark Carpenter.

And they were level again on 70 minutes - this time Dublin pulling out the equaliser through defender Stephen O'Shaughnessy. Dublin looked to have thrown it when Carlow drew level again through substitute Alan Curran, and then edged in front thanks to a dramatic late score from Ray Walker, who produced one of several impressive performances for Carlow.

That left Dublin in panic, but it was O'Shaughnessy who saved their blushes by forcing extra time.

Suddenly a game that was never expected to rise above the predictable turned into something of a late-night thriller. Dublin restored their advantage through Kevin Bonner, who came on to restore them to 15 men, and a Bernard Brogan free. A nice score from Bryan Cullen put them three points up.

Again that was short-lived as Carlow forward Eric McCormack converted a penalty in real style, which had also resulted in a second yellow card for Dublin's Derek Murray. The sides were then level again on three separate occasions in the second period of added time, with Dublin appearing to hold the winning hand when Cullen, set up nicely by Alan Brogan, put Dublin a point clear.

A minute into added time, however, Carlow got the draw they deserved when McCormack calmly converted a late free, the last kick of the match, to bring the curtain down on what was an amazingly entertaining game.

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, B Cullen (0-2), B Brogan (1-5, three frees); J O'Brien (0-1, a free), D O'Mahony, A Brogan (0-2). Subs: D Murray for P Brogan (25 mins, inj), D Henry for Moran (39 mins), D Bastick for Flynn (50 mins), P Casey for Lally (60 mins), G Cullen (0-1) for O'Brien (67 mins), K Bonner (0-2), on for extra time. P Burke for B Brogan (73 mins), D Lally for O'Shaughnessy (85 mins).

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, all frees, a penalty). Subs: N Barrett for Rea (16 mins, inj), A Curran (0-1) for Cashin (20 mins), P Walsh (0-1) for Smith (half time), S Gannon for Carbery (53 mins), B Kelly for Barrett (58 mins); M Nolan (0-1) for Walker (85 mins) A Amond for Murphy (86 mins).

Referee: Sean Carroll(Westmeath).