Pic Courtesy Paul Barrett
Holders Kilmacud Crokes rode their luck before eventually seeing off Ballyboden St Enda’s by 1-17 to 0-13 after extra-time in their Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship quarter-final in Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.
The sides were deadlocked at 0-13 apiece at full-time as Ballyboden finished strongly through three points by Daire Sweeney.
However, they failed to ignite in extra-time as points from Tom Fox, Shane Walsh, Craig Dias and Paul Mannion reflected Crokes’ renewed vigour and with their opponents reduced to thirteen following the dismissals of Michael O’Gara and Colm Basquel, Walsh netted on the counter-attack with the last kick of the game.
Kilmacud led by 0-8 to 0-5 at half-time with Dara Mullin impressing with three points from play but St Enda’s stayed in touch through a trio of Basquel scores.
Sweeney and Basquel, who both kicked six points, continued to dominate the Ballyboden scoring after the break and the former’s late contribution ensured added time, with Crokes showing all their experience to prevail.
Earlier in the day, Na Fianna were indebted to Conor McHugh and Brian O’Leary as they defeated Clontarf by 1-20 to 1-15 in a hugely entertaining encounter.
Despite early points from O’Leary, McHugh and Ciaran Reddin, Na Fianna were struggling by the end of the first quarter as Charlie Meehan’s three points from play and a superb Jack McCaffrey saw them trail by 1-6 to 0-3.
A Reddin goal in the 19th minute helped settle the Glasnevin outfit and three points on the bounce by McHugh saw them overtake their opponents.
However, the momentum switched once again as Clontarf finished the half strongly through points by Meehan, Nathan Doran and Kieran McKeon to hold a slender 1-11 to 1-10 interval lead.
Na Fianna’s defence began to dominate after the break and they provided the platform for McHugh (0-10) and O’Leary (0-5) to confirm their spot in the last four.
Meanwhile on Friday night, Cuala were the first team to secure their semi-final berth as they comfortably overcame Castleknock by 2-13 to 1-10 in Parnell Park.
There was little to separate the teams initially with Niall O’Callaghan and Luke Swan trading early scores before Cuala pushed two points clear following a Con O’Callaghan brace.
Swan and Ger McDermottroe replied for Castleknock but with Michael Fitzsimons and Con O’Callaghan adding points, Cuala seized the initiative thanks to a 27th minute goal from wing-back Eoin Kennedy.
Leading by 1-6 to 0-4 at half-time, Cuala took little time to enhance their position of control upon the restart as they added four unanswered points Luke Keating, Peter Duffy, Niall O’Callaghan and Con O’Callaghan.
The latter effectively settled the issue when crashing home past Morven Connolly in the 42nd minute and while Conor Chawke found the net for Castleknock in the 57th minute, it proved of mere consolation value by full-time.
The second quarter-final that evening was a dour affair that saw Ballymun Kickhams do just enough to account for St Vincent’s by 0-10 to 1-5.
A 7th minute goal from James Brady handed St Vincent’s the early initiative before Dean Rock replied with a brace of points for Kickhams.
Cian Dunne kicked an excellent point for St Vincent’s in the 12th minute but it proved their final score of the half as another Rock brace and a Robbie Bolger score edged Ballymun into a 0-5 to 1-1 interval lead.
Rock continued to impress with two further scores early in the second-half but the further the contest evolved, the more conservative Ballymun became as their opponents took advantage through two Paul Reynolds Hand frees and a Bill Costello score.
The contest seemed destined for extra-time before Rock converted a 61st minute free while substitute Davy Leonard added an insurance point two minute later.
Ballymun will face Cuala in a fortnight’s time with Kilmacud drawn against Na Fianna in the remaining semi-final.
Go-Ahead Ireland SFC1 Quarter-Finals: Cuala 2-13 Castleknock 1-10; Ballymun Kickhams 0-10 St Vincent’s 1-5; Na Fianna 1-20 Clontarf 1-15; Kilmacud Crokes 1-17 Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-13 AET.
