Late Shane Walsh salvo helps Crokes squeeze through to Dublin semis 

Three ahead in their Dublin SFC quarter-final tie, a repeat of last year's final, the county and Leinster champions were surprisingly reeled in and taken to extra-time.

Daire Sweeney scored three points in a row for 'Boden who'd earlier been inspired by All-Star Colm Basquel, tying it up at 0-13 apiece.

But it was all Crokes in extra-time and they outscored 'Boden 1-4 to no score with returning Galway star Shane Walsh adding 1-1 in the extra 20 minutes or so.

Walsh scored 1-4 in total on his return to action having not featured since the All-Ireland final against Armagh in July, apparently due to ankle and hamstring issues.

Basquel and 'Boden colleague Michael O'Gara were both sent off in extra-time, as was experienced Crokes midfielder Rory O'Carroll, all in separate incidents.

Afterwards, the draw for the Dublin SFC semi-finals paired off Crokes with Na Fianna, who beat Clontarf 1-20 to 1-15 in today's earlier quarter-final at Parnell Park, while Cuala will face Ballymun Kickhams.

From Brennan's perspective, the result keeps him in charge of Crokes for a little longer. It has been reported that he will leave as soon as their interest in the Dublin SFC is over.

Asked about this afterwards, Brennan declined to speak about anything to do with the Meath job, saying he will do so at a later date.

Whenever Brennan does leave Crokes, he will do so with a remarkable personal record. Since taking over as manager for 2020 - he was previously joint manager with Jonny Magee - he has presided over 41 championship games and won 37 of them, yielding three Dublin and Leinster titles and an All-Ireland.

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.

Kilmacud Crokes scorers: Shane Walsh 1-4 (0-2f), Paul Mannion 0-4 (0-3f), Dara Mullin 0-3, Joe Quigley 0-1 (0-1m), Dan O'Brien 0-1, Mark O'Leary 0-1, Cian O'Connor 0-1, Tom Fox 0-1, Craig Dias 0-1.

Ballyboden St Endas scorers: Colm Basquel 0-6 (0-4f), Daire Sweeney 0-6 (0-2f), Ross McGarry 0-1.

KILMACUD CROKES: Devon Burns; Dan O'Brien, Michael Mullin, James Murphy; Cian O'Connor, Mark O'Leary, Andy McGowan; Rory O'Carroll, Ben Shovlin; Dara Mullin, Paul Mannion, Paddy O'Connor; Hugh Kenny, Shane Walsh, Joe Quigley.

Subs: Shane Cunningham for O'Connor (42), Luke Ward for Quigley (42), Craig Dias for McGowan (49), Tom Fox for Kenny (61). Anthony Quinn for O'Connor (70+1), Shane Horan for Mullin (72), Dan Murphy for O'Brien (79).

BALLYBODEN ST ENDAS: Hugh O'Sullivan; Evan Nugent, Shane Clayton, Harry Donaghy; James Holland, Cathal Flaherty, Alex Gavin; Cein D'Arcy, Michael McDonald; Luke O'Donoghue, Donagh McCabe, Ross McGarry; Ryan O'Dwyer, Colm Basquel, Daire Sweeney.

Subs: Michael O'Gara for O'Donoghue (43), John McGuire for McCabe (54), Ciaran Duggan for Flaherty (68). Ciaran O'Reilly for Holland (70+2), O'Donoghue for McDonald (e/t), McDonald for McGarry (74).

Referee: Ian Howley.