This game had to be rescheduled by a swine flu scare in the Mourne County camp, but Mark Turley's Down charges showed their battling qualities as they set up a semi-final clash with Mayo.

Down began brightly and fired over the opening score after just 22 seconds, with Robbie White slotting over his only score of the game.

Dublin were dangerous throughout the contest, with half-forward Darragh Stapleton landing a quick-fire point, before he shot home a fourth-minute goal.

The teams quickly went point-for-point as they began to open up the defences. Matthew Bagnall scored for Down to cut the gap to a 1-5 to 0-6.

Down showed the greater hunger in the closing stages of the opening half, with a Ross McGarry goal giving them a one-point lead.

The Dubs bounced back with a brace of Stapleton points, sandwiching a McGarry effort, as the sides turned around at half-time locked level at 1-8 apiece.

Down began the second half impressively, hitting five of the opening six points to break clear by 1-13 to 1-9 - Chris Clarke, Kevin McClorey and Caolan Mooney were all on target.

Adding to the drama and tension, Dublin substitute Philip Ryan grabbed a 58th minute goal to get his side back level and better followed for the Metropolitans when Stapleton fired over a brace of points.

But Down hit back decisively in injury-time when McPartland bulged the net with the match winner.

Scorers - Down: R McGarry 1-4 (0-2f), C Clarke 0-3 (0-1f), N McPartland 1-0, C Mooney, M Bagnall 0-2 each, D O'Hanlan, K McClorey, R White, D McKibbin, R O'Hare 0-1 each.

Dublin: D Stapleton 1-9 (0-6f), P Hudson 0-3 (0-1f), P Ryan 1-0, F Walsh, G Sweeney 0-1 each