Kilmacud Crokes Defeat Ballyboden After Extra-Time in Dublin SFC Quarter-Final

Picture Courtesy Paul Barrett

KILMACUD CROKES 1-17 

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 0-13

Holders Kilmacud Crokes took another positive step towards defending their title as they accounted for Ballyboden St Enda’s by seven points after extra-time in their Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship quarter-final in Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

In what was a repeat of last year’s decider, Crokes assumed control in the early stages and they deservedly led by 0-8 to 0-5 by half-time, with Dara Mullin contributing three points from play.

A lethargic Kilmacud looked to had done just enough to prevail as they maintained their buffer after the break but a trio of Daire Sweeney scores in the final quarter was the least that Ballyboden deserved as the sides finished at 0-13 apiece.

Crokes completely dominated extra-time, and with their opponents reduced to thirteen by the final whistle, they confirmed their place in the last four through a Shane Walsh goal in the closing seconds.

The holders were quickest out of the blocks as they took the lead through a free from late addition Shane Walsh in the 2^nd minute and with Rory O’Carroll pouncing on the resultant kick-out, his transfer to Paul Mannion yielded a second Crokes score.

The versatile Dan O’Brien highlighted his talents with a sublime score with the outside of the boot in the 4^th minute with a initially sloppy Ballyboden finally opening their own account four minutes later thanks to Colm Basquel.

St Enda’s were indebted to goalkeeper Hugh O’Sullivan a minute later as Dara Mullin bore down on goal but his powerful shot was superbly tipped over the crossbar to minimise the damage.

Mullin doubled his own account when punching over from Mannion’s incisive pass while Basquel did likewise at the opposite end as his team trailed by 0-5 to 0-2 by the end of the first quarter.

Crokes continued to dominate however as they extended their lead as Joe Quigley converted a ‘mark’ and the lively Mullin calmly popped over his third point in the 21^st minute to leave five points between the sides.

Boden’s fortunes improved as the half evolved as Daire Sweeney and Basquel (free) helped trim their arrears and while Mark O’Leary kicked an excellent score by way of riposte, a Ross McGarry point in the 30^th minute reduced Kilmacud’s lead to three points by the interval.

There was little to enthuse over in the early stages of the second-half with the holders defending in great numbers and looking to hit on the counter-attack.

From one such sortie, Walsh was fouled by Shane Clayton and the Galway attacker took full advantage as he clipped over his second free of the night.

However, their tactics allowed Ballyboden to enjoy generous amounts of possession and they brought their deficit down to two points as Sweeney kicked a brace of scores within two minutes.

Mannion’s quick-thinking allowed Walsh to pop over off his left foot but Boden’s greater pressure was rewarded as Basquel added two points in quick succession to leave the contest on a knife-edge entering the final quarter.

While Mannion and Cian O’Connor handed Crokes some much-needed breathing room, Sweeney made up that deficit with three points on the bounce to leave the teams deadlocked at 0-13 apiece by the 59^th minute.

There was one final gilt-edged chance for Ballyboden in normal time but Basquel screwed his free wide of the upright, handing Crokes a reprieve they hardly merited.

Crucially, Crokes regained a degree of control as extra-time commenced and after Tom Fox had restored their lead in the opening minute, Walsh fired over a sumptuous effort to leave the holders two points to the good at the short break.

A brilliant Craig Dias point in the 72nd minute increased Kilmacud’s momentum and matters deteriorated for St Enda’s even further as Michael O’Gara was dismissed for an off-the-ball indiscretion soon after.

While O’Carroll also saw red after his second booking in the 76^th minute, it failed to derail Kilmacud in any way with Boden’s frustrations encapsulated as Basquel was dismissed late on.

Walsh rubbed salt into the wounds as he netted with the last kick of the contest, one which showed Kilmacud dig out a victory without overly impressing, a recurring theme in recent years.

Scorers – Kilmacud Crokes: S Walsh 1-4 (0-2f); P Mannion 0-4 (3f); D Mullin 0-3; D O’Brien, C O’Connor, M O’Leary, J Quigley (mark), T Fox, C Dias 0-1 apiece. Ballyboden St Enda’s: C Basquel (4f), D Sweeney (2f) 0-6 apiece; R McGarry 0-1.

Kilmacud Crokes: D Burns; D O’Brien, M Mullin, J Murphy; C O’Connor, M O’Leary, A McGowan; R O’Carroll, B Shovlin; D Mullin, P Mannion, P O’Connor; H Kenny, S Walsh, J Quigley. Subs: S Cunningham for P O’Connor (41), L Ward for Quigley (41), C Dias for McGowan (49), T Fox for Kenny (60), A Quinn for C O’Connor (70), S Horan for D Mullin (72), D Murphy for O’Brien (79).

Ballyboden St Enda’s: H O’Sullivan; E Nugent, S Clayton, H Donaghy; J Holland, C Flaherty, A Gavin; C D’Arcy, M McDonald; L O’Donoghue, D McCabe, R McGarry; R O’Dwyer, C Basquel, D Sweeney. Subs: M O’Gara for O’Donoghue (43), J McGuire for McCabe (54), O’Donoghue for McDonald (61), C Duggan for Flaherty (68), C O’Reilly for Holland (70), McDonald for McGarry (75).

Referee: Ian Howley (O’Dwyer’s).