Dublin senior football championship quarter-finals
KILMACUD CROKES 1-17 BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 0-13
(After extra-time)
NA FIANNA 1-20 CLONTARF 1-15
By Paul Keane at Parnell Park
Galway star Shane Walsh made an impressive return to action as four-in-a-row chasing Kilmacud Crokes braved a bout of extra-time to secure their Dublin SFC semi-final place.
Three points ahead with five minutes remaining in normal time, Crokes were reeled in and taken to extra-time by three Daire Sweeney points in a row for ‘Boden.
But the class, experience and superior conditioning of the Leinster champions came to the fore in extra-time as Robbie Brennan’s crew outscored ‘Boden by 1-4 to no score.
Walsh, who hadn’t played since lining out for Galway in July’s All-Ireland final against Armagh, scored 1-1 in extra-time including a late, late goal as ‘Boden pushed up and were punished on the break.
Walsh finished with 1-4 in total while Dublin attacker Paul Mannion scored 0-4.
Ballyboden, beaten in last year’s final by Crokes, gave it all they had but their challenge fizzled out in extra-time and they lost both Michael O’Gara and Colm Basquel to red cards in the additional 20 minutes.
Crokes had Rory O’Carroll sent off for a second yellow card in extra-tie too.
The draw immediately afterwards for the Go-Ahead Dublin SFC semi-finals pitted Crokes against Na Fianna and Cuala against Ballymun Kickhams.
Tom Gray’s Na Fianna beat Clontarf 1-20 to 1-15 in today’s earlier quarter-final at Parnell Park while, last night, Cuala beat Castleknock 2-13 to 1-10 there and Ballymun beat St Vincent’s 0-10 to 1-5.
Crokes relinquished their proud perfect record in Dublin SFC group games when they drew with Thomas Davis in their final Group 4 encounter.
Prior to that, they’d won all 20 group games they’d played since the straight knock-out format was done away with in 2018.
But they weren’t beaten either and the point they gained at O’Toole Park ensured they topped their table again.
Ballyboden, meanwhile, had to bounce back from their opening round loss to Ballymun Kickhams with defeats of St Sylvesters and Ballinteer St Johns.
Crokes weren’t overly impressive against Thomas Davis but started brightly here, notching the game’s first two points in the opening 90 seconds.
The returning Walsh and Mannion grabbed those scores and Crokes were 0-5 to 0-1 to the good after the opening quarter.
They needed to make more of their dominance though and a couple of Walsh wides, allied to a great save from ‘Boden goalkeeper Hugh O’Sullivan from a Dara Mullin shot, tipping it over, kept the game a contest.
Ballyboden were better in the second quarter, outscoring Crokes by 0-4 to 0-3 in that period to leave just three points in at half-time, 0-8 to 0-5 in favour of the holders.
Basquel was ‘Boden’s chief threat, scoring three first-half points and drawing three big fouls, none of which drew a sanction to his dismay.
Kenny Naughton’s side kept the pressure on after the break and got it back to a one-point game with 15 minutes remaining, 0-10 to 0-9.
Basquel was up to five points for the day at that stage and made it a neat half dozen with a 49th minute point from a free, 0-11 to 0-10.
Crokes got the margin out to three again and with five minutes remaining it looked as if they’d weathered the storm and would pilfer a narrow win with a typically business-like performance.
But the excellent Sweeney had other ideas and reeled off three points between the 55th and 59th minutes to force extra-time at 0-13 apiece.
Walsh and goalkeeper Devon Burns had 63rd and 65th minute chances to win it for Crokes but couldn’t convert.
Basquel had a stoppage time opportunity for ‘Boden too but couldn’t convert and the All-Star’s day got even worse in extra-time when he saw red along with the two other players.
