DUBLIN 0-13 MONAGHAN 1-9
Dublin protected their 100 per cent record in the Allianz NFL Division 1 when overcoming Monaghan at Clones on Sunday afternoon in front of an attendance of 4,150.
The Dubs hit a purple patch in the second half hitting seven points without reply between the 44th and 56th minutes to lead 0-13 to 1-6 – it was this scoring surge and Dublin’s greater ability to convert chances into scores which ultimately decided the outcome.
Dublin’s subs contributed greatly to the victory with Alan Brogan, Darragh Nelson and Paddy Andrews all kicking points while Brogan carried the fight to Monaghan whenever in possession in the second half.
Dublin finished with 14 men after Diarmuid Connolly, who had scored three excellent points from play, was sent off for a second yellow card offence ten minutes from time. His second yellow card, while certainly a free, did not look to warrant a card.
Monaghan led at half-time, 1-5 to 0-6, after the Dubs failed to score for the concluding 15 mins of the opening half after having led 0-6 to 0-1 after 20 minutes.
Indeed the visitors had made a flying start to notch four points in the opening five minutes with Kevin McManamon, Tomas Quinn, Declan Lally and Connolly all on the mark.
However, as the half progressed the Farney County began to get a better grip on proceedings, especially on the breaking ball at midfield, and Conor McManus’ 22nd minute goal when he outjumped Stephen Cluxton to flick to the net was the catalyst for a Monaghan period of dominance which saw them add four points before the interval.
In the dying minutes Darren Daly came to the rescue for the Dubs when he bravely blocked down Monaghan’s Owen Lennon as he bore down on goal to prevent what could have been a match-winning goal for the home side.
SCORERS – Dublin: B Brogan 0-4 (0-3f), D Connolly 0-3, K McManamon, D Lally, T Quinn, D Nelson, A Brogan, P Andrews 0-1 each. Monaghan: C McManus 1-2, P Finlay 0-3 (0-3f), D Mone, M Downey, C McGuinness, T Freeman 0-1 each.
DUBLIN – S Cluxton; Ross O’Carroll, S Murray, D Daly; P Casey, G Brennan, D Lally; D Bastick, B Cahill; P Flynn, K McManamon, MD Macauley; B Brogan, D Connolly, T Quinn. Subs: D Nelson for Lally (inj 29), B Cullen for Flynn (ht), A Brogan for Quinn (ht), P Andrews for Macauley (44), P Brogan for O’Carroll (inj 55).
MONAGHAN – M Keogh; C Walshe, Darren Hughes, K Duffy; V Corey, D Mone, David Hughes; D Clerkin, N McAdam; J Turley, M Downey, D Morgan; C McGuinness, P Finlay, C McManus. Subs: O Lennon for Morgan (ht), T Freeman for Turley (55), D Freeman for Darren Hughes (inj 72).
REF – Michael Duffy (Sligo).
