Dublin 0-17
Monaghan 0-16

DUBLIN’S BID TO complete a three-in-a-row of football league titles is still on track but only after they survived a huge test from Monaghan this afternoon in Croke Park.

The Dubs thrashed Monaghan last Sunday in Clones but it was a far closer affair today with man-of-the-match Conor McManus starring in attack for the Ulster side.

He finished with eight points, five from play, as Monaghan gave the defending champions a scare in the second half.

Cork now await for the Dubs in a repeat of the 2011 league final, and Jim Gavin will surely be looking for a more polished performance in a fortnight’s time. Their attack was very disjointed in the face of Monaghan pressure, and playmaker Diarmuid Connolly turned over possession too many times on a frustrating afternoon.

Bernard Brogan was named at corner-forward earlier this week but come throw-in time, the former Footballer of the Year wasn’t even among the substitutes. Instead it fell to Dean Rock to lead the attack from full-forward and after a nervy start, he posted a total of 0-7, all from placed balls.

After last week’s drubbing, Monaghan chose to play it safe in the first half. It was a strategy that served them well and Dublin led by just two points, 0-9 to 0-7, at the break.

Malachy O’Rourke introduced both Dick Clerkin and Dermot Malone early in the second half, and Clerkin in particular proved to be an inspiration as a resurgent Monaghan began to find their way through.

Two McManus points, either side of a Clerkin free, edged them into an 0-14 to 0-13 lead inside the final 15 minutes.

But Dublin reeled off four points without reply with substitute Emmett Ó Conghaile and Jack McCaffrey adding to two more Rock frees.

Monaghan never gave up and Clerkin and McManus again cut the gap to the minimum in the final minutes.

They had their chances to force a draw at the death but Malone rushed his shot when he might have been better to lay the ball off, and then Darren Hughes was just off-target as he tried to flick Stephen Gollogly’s dropping ball past Stephen Cluxton.

Scorers for Dublin: Dean Rock 0-7 (0-6f, 0-1 ’45), Philly McMahon, Brian Fenton, Kevin McManamon 0-2 each, Denis Bastick, Paul Flynn, Emmett Ó Conghaile, Jack McCaffrey 0-1 each.

Scorers for Monaghan: Conor McManus 0-8 (0-3f), Dick Clerkin 0-3, Kieran Hughes, 0-2 , Neil McAdam, Rory Beggan (0-1f), Paul Finlay (0-1f) 0-1 each.

DUBLIN

1. Stephen Cluxton (Parnells)

2. Jonny Cooper (Na Fianna)
19. David Byrne (St Olaf’s)
4. Philip McMahon (Ballymun Kickhams)

5. James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams)
6. John Small (Ballymun Kickhams)
7. Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf)

8. Denis Bastick (Templeogue Synge Street)
9. Cian O’Sullivan (Kilmacud Crokes)

10. Paul Flynn (Fingalians)
11. Diarmuid Connolly (St Vincents)
12. Brian Fenton (Raheny)

13. Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock)
14. Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams)
25. Kevin McManamon (St Jude’s)

Substitutions:

24. Michael Darragh MacAuley for O’Sullivan (45)
17. Paddy Andrews for McManamon (50)
26. Emmett Ó Conghaile for Bastick (53)
22. Darren Daly for O’Carroll (53)
20. Cormac Costello for Fenton (60)
18. Tomas Brady for Flynn (69)

Monaghan

1. Rory Beggan (Scotstown)

2. Kieran Duffy (Latton)
23. Thomas Kerr (Ballybay)
4. Ryan Wylie (Ballybay)

5. Fintan Kelly (Clones)
6. Vinny Corey (Clontibret)
7. Karl O’Connell (Tyholland)

8. Neil McAdam (Monaghan Harps)
9. Darren Hughes (Scotstown)

10. Dessie Mone (Clontibret)
11. Paul Finlay (Ballybay)
12. Owen Duffy (Latton)

19. Ryan McAnespie (Emyvale)
14. Kieran Hughes (Scotstown)
15. Conor McManus (Clontibret)

Substitutions:

21. Dick Clerkin for Kerr (HT)
13. Dermot Malone for Duffy (40)
25. Stephen Gollogly for McAnespie (43)
20. Paudie McKenna for Finlay (63)
26. Daniel McKenna for O’Connell (69)

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