Cavan will meet Down in the semi-finals of this year's Ulster U-21 FC but they needed extra time to do so after a thriller at Kingspan/Breffni Park.

As the first half gathered pace Shane Carey (Monaghan) and Cavan ace Jack Brady were kept particularly busy on free-taking duty.

Cavan notched six unanswered points – including four from top scorer Brady – between the 18th and 27th minutes to steer their way into a 0-8 to 0-6 interval lead.

Cavan leapt into a 1-8 to 0-6 lead just three minutes into the second half when Paul O’Connor rifling the ball to the net. But nine minutes later Jack McCarron’s clinical finish made it 1-8 apiece.

Monaghan’s Shane Carey was dismissed on a second yellow and wasteful Cavan’s could have won it in ordinary time. But it was Cavan who proceeded to gallop their way to the winner’s enclosure in extra-time. Points (two) from impressive subs Joe Dillon and Conor Madden helped seal the issue.