Garycastle 2-13 Mattock Rangers 2-10:NOT FOR the first time this year, a Louth team played with considerable heart and determination, defying most expectations in the process, yet somehow fell frustratingly short of victory. There was however no injustice here, rather the mere stubbornness of Garrycastle to deny what could just as easily have been a victory for Mattock Rangers.

It was perhaps a simple case of experience getting the better of ambition. Garrycastle, last year’s Leinster finalists, got themselves in front early in the second half, and essentially defended that advantage until the end.

Mattock Rangers threw everything at them and, although reduced to 14 men for the last quarter, forced a very nervous conclusion for the home team, who played much of that period with all 15 men well inside their own half.

In the end, Garrycastle’s dangerous tactics just about sufficed, but had David Reid’s final few shots on goal hit their target – and one came flying off the upright, and could easily have spun into the net – then the Louth champions might well be progressing to the semi-final. Instead, it’s the Westmeath men who march on for what is sure to be a fairly epic Leinster semi-final against Dublin champions Kilmacud Crokes in two weeks’ time.

The game itself twice spun in opposite directions when both teams managed to produce two goals inside 60 seconds.

Mattock Rangers were first to pounce. After a slow start, partly explained by their lack of action since their county championship, they went two points up, with just over 15 minutes played.

Adrian Reid was first to oblige when he soloed through a sleepy Garrycastle defence to claim their first goal, and moments later midfielder Christy Grimes went on a similarly unchallenged solo run before passing off to Niall Sharkey, who duly collected goal number two. Suddenly they were 2-1 to 0-5 in front, and that at least ensured things remained interesting until the end.

Garrycastle were forced into three late changes before the start, with David O’Shaughnessy among those crying off, but still the old heads settled them into the game, with Dessie Dolan coolly converting two 45s in the opening 10 minutes, while Patrick Mulvihill also hinted at some good scoring form (he would finish with 2-2).

Full forward Paul Dillon reduced the deficit on Mattock Rangers with two frees, but Garrycastle were still trailing at the break, 2-4 to 0-8.

It was a surprisingly tame start for the team that always promises to ignite under the bold management of former Galway hurling man Anthony Cunningham.

Then, just two minutes into the second half, Garrycastle did ignite, and we got our second two-goal flurry in 60 seconds: the first one began with a long-range free from midfielder Aidan Browne, which was collected in front of goal by Patrick Mulvihill, and deftly turned into it the net.

Mattock Rangers had hardly registered that blow before Mulvihill struck again, this time after being set up by a nifty one-two between Browne and Dolan.

So that pushed the home team 2-8 to 2-5 in front, and unfortunately for Mattock Rangers that was enough of a cushion to see them through until the end.

They did close it back to a one-point game on 40 minutes when Darren Brennan hit a second point from play, but already Garrycastle were starting to close down the attack routes, forcing the Louth men to shot from further out the field, or else from more acute angles. O’Shaughnessy was also introduced for the home team and further limited the progress of the opposition.

When they lost centre forward and big play-maker Mark Brennan to a second yellow card on 48 minutes it seemed Mattock Rangers had blown any late chance of victory, but instead they raised their game yet again, and soon had Garrycastle defending rather desperately, when really then should have put the result out of question.

David Reid’s onslaught of shots appeared to give Mattock hope, although when Darren Brennan’s run at goal was smothered out by the Garrycastle defence it was obvious that luck wasn’t on their side. Two final efforts from Reid – a free that fell short, and the shot that came off the upright – spelled the end for Mattock Rangers, while at the other end, as if sensing their 15-man defensive tactic had prevailed, Garrycastle broke into one final attack, and Shane Mulvilhill blasted his shot directly between the points. Game over.

GARRYCASTLE: C Mullin; J Dolan (0-1), J Gaffey, A Fox (0-1); M McCallon, K Henson, D Harte; J McAteer, A Browne (0-1); S Mulvihill (0-2), D Dolan (0-4, two 45s, two frees), R McGowan; J Duignan, P Dillon (0-2, two frees), P Mulvihill (2-2). Subs: D O’Shaughnessy for Duignan (half time), A Daly for P Dillon (38 mins), E Mulvihill for McAteer (53 mins), P Rattigan for Fox (60 mins).

MATTOCK RANGERS: M Englishby; P Bannon, D Brennan, M Sherlock; S Gilsenan, D Englishby, M McKeown; R Leneghan, C Grimes (0-2, one free); A Reid (1-0), M Brennan (0-2), D Reid (0-4, two frees); D Brennan (0-2), R Brennan, N Sharkey (1-0). Subs: K Brennan for Leneghan (49 mins).

Referee: Sly Doyle (Wexford).