Wicklow are through to the quarter-finals of the Leinster U21 FC following a dramatic 5-12 to 3-13 defeat of Carlow at IT Carlow tonight.

The victors looked to be home and hosed when leading by nine points approaching the 50-minute mark but the plucky losers drew level on the stroke of full time only to be left reeling by an injury-time Sean McGraynor goal in between points from Gary Allen (free) and Michael O'Connor.

At the end of a high-quality opening period that produced some stellar action from both sets of players, Jonathan Daniels' heroes led by 3-6 to 1-7.

The Barrowsiders got off to an astonishing start when wing-forward Diarmuid Walsh netted inside 30 seconds and tagged on three more points from Walsh, Niall Lowry and Darren Lunney to lead by 1-3 to 0-2 after ten minutes, with the Wicklow scores coming from Martin Cullen and Marc Lennon.

The Garden County refused to panic and gradually reeled their opponents in. Following an exchange of points, Patrick O'Connor found the hosts' net in the 16th minute and the centre forward tied the scores up for the first time a minute later, 1-4 apiece.

Nine minutes from the break, O'Connor turned provider as he placed Lennon for the visitors' second major. Points were registered at either end before O'Connor's 29th-minute score made it 2-6 to 1-7. On the stroke of half time, Michael O'Connor was dragged down for a Wicklow penalty and Gary Allen dispatched his shot excellently to give his side a five-point interval advantage.

Wicklow almost grabbed their fourth three-pointer immediately upon the restart but John O'Callaghan's shot clipped the top of the crossbar and went over. However, it was just a temporary reprieve for Carlow as Cathal Magee was on hand to fist to the net on 40 minutes - 4-8 to 1-9.

Despite having the influential Patrick O'Connor black-carded coming up to the three-quarters stage, scores from Allen and O'Callaghan ensured that the winners led by three goals with just over ten minutes remaining, 4-10 to 1-10.

Incredibly, Peter McConnan's never-say-die charges netted twice inside 60 seconds vi Niall Lowry to reduce their arrears to just three points with nine minutes left - a dramatic twist!

With the bit between their teeth, Carlow kept going and further points in the 57th and 59th minutes had the deficit back to the minimum. The hosts drew level in stoppage time but there was an unexpected sting in the tail as Allen restored the Garden County's lead with a 62nd-minute converted free before McGraynor's goal in the third added minute finally settled this astonishing contest.

Michael O'Connor supplied the icing on the cake. Wicklow will be back in action next Wednesday night, when they face Laois - who defeated Louth tonight - for a place in the semi-finals.

Wicklow - I Murphy; C McGorman, M O'Sullivan (0-1), E Marah; C Healy, E Murtagh, M Cullen (0-1); D Boothman (0-1), S McGraynor (1-0); J O'Callaghan (0-2), P O'Connor (1-2), C Magee (1-0); G Allen (1-4, 1-0pen, 0-3f), M Lennon (1-1), M O'Connor. Subs: B McCormack for P O'Connor (BC), D Gethings for C Healy, R Marron for G Allen (BC).

Carlow - C White; A Byrne, J Murphy, C Kelly; M Rennick, M Furey, C O'Toole; K Chatten, D Wall; D Walsh (1-2, 0-2f), C O'Brien (0-2), L O'Sullivan (0-2); D Smithers (0-2), D Lunney (0-2), N Lowry (2-2). Subs: C Byrne for M Furey, S Webb (0-1) for D Wall (BC), C McGrath for C O'Toole.

Referee - D Moore.

#Relief #EirGridU21 pic.twitter.com/5dQMge2QWM

- Wicklow GAA Online (@wicklowgaa) February 24, 2016

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