Dublin went on a scoring spree tonight at Pearse Park, where they inflicted a 4-21 to 0-7 drubbing on Longford.

Victory sends the Metropolitans through to a semi-final meeting with Wexford (who beat Louth in Drogheda with a last-gasp penalty) at Parnell Park next Tuesday.

This game was over as any sort of contest long before the short whistle sounded with the visitors 16 points ahead, 1-15 to 0-2.

By the time hat-trick hero Ciaran Archer first found the Longford net in the eleventh minute, the rampant Dubs led by nine points, the awesome Archer (4) and Ross McGarry having fired over the first six points of the game. Karl Lynch Bissett, McGarry stretched the gap and, after the hosts knocked over a brace of frees, Archer and Brian O’Leary pushed the winners ahead by 1-10 to 0-2.

The on-song Archer increased Dublin’s lead further on 20 minutes and O’Leary promptly left 13 between the sides, ensuring it was all over bar the shouting by the short whistle.

It continued to be one-way traffic when the action resumed, Tom Gray’s men effortlessly kicking on with goals from Harry Ladd and Archer (two – the first one from a penalty).

Ominously, the Dubs still have to welcome back Liam Flatman, Luke Doran and Eamon Conroy from injury.

Dublin - D O'Hanlon; D Maher, D Newcombe, E O'Dea; K Kennedy, N Matthews, S Lambe; P O Cofaigh Byrne, D Ryan; N O'Leary, K Lynch, Bissett (0-1), J Doran (0-2); B O’Leary (0-2), C Archer (3-8, 1-0pen, 0-5f), R McGarry (0-4, 1f). Subs: H Ladd (1-2) for R McGarry, A Lynch for D Maher, M Lavin (0-1) for N O’Leary, D Lacey (0-1) for J Doran, D Conlon for N Matthews, S Farrelly for P O Cofaigh Byrne.

Longford - P Murray; G Hughes, PJ Masterson, D Corcoran; E McCormack, P Duggan, S Farrell; N Farrelly, D O’Brien; G Flynn, J Hagan (0-2, 1f), K Gilmore; O Kenny (0-4f), A McGuire (0-1), J Shiels. Subs: D Ciglianio for S Farrell, E Keogh for K Gilmore, P Molloy for J Shiels, S Campbell for P Duggan, J Martin for G Flynn,  E Smyth for D Corcoran.

Referee - F Smyth.

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