Dublin 0-17
Monaghan 2-12
Colm Shalvey reports from Croke Park
MONAGHAN ENDED DUBLIN’S unbeaten run in the Allianz Football League in a dramatic finish at Croke Park.
A last-gasp point from Fintan Kelly saw Malachy O’Rourke’s side earn a first win over Dublin since 2006 – and a first win for Monaghan against the Dubs
at GAA Headquarters – in a game where they had trailed narrowly for long spells.
Monaghan struck first with a point from Vincent Corey, before Dean Rock opened his
account and Dublin’s via a free. Conor McManus and Rock exchanged points, before
Dublin took charge with scores from Rock, Brian Fenton and Philip McMahon.
Dessie Mone kept Monaghan in touch and the visitors took the lead when Corey slipped
in a left-footed finish for the opening goal.
Vinny Corey rattles the back net, Goal for Monaghan! pic.twitter.com/nDBtyMpvYy
— The GAA (@officialgaa) March 25, 2018
John Small and Rock replied for the All- Ireland champions and although Conor McCarthy levelled it up, a fine score from Brian Howard had Dublin ahead again. A second Conor McCarthy free left Monaghan on terms at 1-5 to 0-8 at half-time and he added a point from play a minute after the restart.
Rock and McMahon moved the Dubs into the lead once more, before a frantic spell saw
the scores start to flow at both ends — Ryan McAnespie and Kieran Hughes on target for
Monaghan and Colm Basquel, Rock and Niall Scully keeping the scoreboard ticking over
for the hosts.
A McManus free brought Monaghan back within one and although Rock responded in
kind for his seventh point, Karl O’Connell kept the visitors in touch. David Byrne
powered forward to double the league finalists’ lead, but Jack McCarron lobbed in a
smartly-taken goal to edge Monaghan ahead. Dublin played the closing stages with 14
men after McMahon was shown a second yellow card.
Fenton kicked an equaliser from distance and after McCarron had hit back, Howard
repeated the trick to leave a draw on the cards. The last action saw Monaghan steal the
win, however, as Fintan Kelly split the uprights from a narrow angle to see his side finish
their league campaign on a high.
Dublin are back at Croke Park to take on Galway in the final next Sunday.
Scorers for Dublin: Dean Rock 0-7 (5f); Philip McMahon 0-2; Brian Howard 0-2; Brian Fenton 0-2; John Small 0-1; Colm Basquel 0-1; David Byrne 0-1; Niall Scully 0-1.
Scorers for Monaghan: Vincent Corey 1-1; Jack McCarron 1-1; Conor McCarthy 0-3
(2f); Conor McManus 0-2 (1f); Karl O’Connell 0-1; Ryan McAnespie 0-1; Kieran
Hughes 0-1; Dessie Mone 0-1; Fintan Kelly 0-1.
Dublin
1. Evan Comerford (Ballymun Kickhams)
2. Michael Fitzsimons (Cuala)
3. Philip McMahon (Ballymun Kickhams)
4. David Byrne (Naomh Olaf)
10. Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street)
5. John Small (Ballymun Kickhams)
7. Darren Daly (Fingal Ravens)
8. Brian Fenton (Raheny)
6. James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams)
18. Shane Carthy (St. Vincent’s)
11. Cormac Costello (Whitehall Colmcille)
12. Brian Howard (Raheny)
21. Conor McHugh (Na Fianna)
13. Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams)
22. Kevin McManamon (St. Jude’s)
Subs:
7. Michael Darragh MacAuley (Ballyboden St. Enda’s) for Carthy (43)
17. Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St. Enda’s) for McManamon (43)
14. Paddy Small (Ballymun Kickhams) for McHugh (53)
24. Eoin Murchan (Na Fianna) for Daly (53)
25. Emmet Ó Conghaile (Lucan Sarsfields) for Costello (63).
Monaghan
1. Rory Beggan (Scotstown)
3. Conor Boyle (Clontibret)
6. Drew Wylie (Ballybay)
19. Ryan Wylie (Ballybay)
7. Karl O’Connell (Tyholland)
18. Vincent Corey (Clontibret)
17. Dessie Mone (Clontibret)
8. Darren Hughes (Scotstown)
9. Niall Kearns (Seán McDermotts)
22. Paudie McKenna (Truagh)
24. Owen Duffy (Latton)
12. Ryan McAnespie (Emyvale)
26. Conor McCarthy (Scotstown)
14. Kieran Hughes (Scotstown)
15. Conor McManus (Clontibret)
Subs:
10. Dessie Ward (Ballybay) for McKenna (46)
22. Fintan Kelly (Clones) for Duffy (46)
2. Colin Walshe (Doohamlet) for Mone (black card, 55)
25. Jack McCarron (Currin) for McCarthy (55)
20. Neil McAdam (Monaghan Harps) for Kearns (58)
23. Thomas Kerr (Ballybay) for K Hughes (70).
Referee: David Gough (Meath).
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Really going to miss Isa, always gave 110% and was such a lovely guy, going to be big shoes to fill.
@Sam Harms: Always enjoyed watching him during those Magners League/Pro 12 games during the international break. Nacewa would regularly find himseld at 15 with 2 young wingers either side of him. He’d guide them though the game, defensively. Where to stand, how far from the centre, when to push in, when to push up etc That’s why I was really hoping he’d stay around and do some coaching. He looks like a coach already.
Leo didn’t exactly give a vote of confidence to Carbery on Saturday, Sexton was goosed, couldn’t kick and could barely run, Nacewa had taken over kicking duties and yet he still kept him on the bench. A move away is badly needed for him. I wouldn’t expect Sexton to be fit for this weekend so it’ll be telling to see who Cullen goes for.
On another note I really enjoyed the game on Saturday. Real tough game and Leinster ground out the result. I was delighted for them.
@Jim Demps: there was no way anyone was coming on to replace Sexton, unless he literally couldnt walk, when it was that close
@Sam Harms: yeh good point Sam,I’m sure he kept him on for a potential drop goal! he was limping and still made the one against France.
@Sam Harms: yeah you’re prob right but he should have come off. He was obviously struggling. It worked out though thankfully.
@Sam Harms: without getting too tribal and with my Irish hat on, Carbery can’t afford to have another season like he has just had if he has any aspirations on playing in the ten jersey for Ireland. I take your point on learning from Sexton but he also needs game time at club level, be it with Ulster or munster.
@Jim Demps: look at it this way, would Munster take Murray off in that situation unless they 100% had to?
@Jim Demps: Or Leinster.
@Sam Harms: Ireland wouldn’t take off Murray either. He’s absolutely vital, like Sexton.
@Sam Harms: I’m not criticizing the decision. I’m saying that Carbery needs to get game time in meaningful games, at ten , before the World Cup.
@Jim Demps: which he can, at Leinster. Munster have 3 flyhalfs already so if he does have to go anywhere it should be Ulster.
@Sam Harms: I get your point of view but neither Duncan Williams or James hart aren’t the back up 9 in the Irish squad so it’s not like for like –
If carbery is back up ten for his country he needs minutes or to be trusted as deputy for the club when the first choice is struggling , although I take no part in the debate as it’s a tricky situation , the Murrays value to Munster comparison just doesnt work
@Sam Harms: I think it’s all been decided anyway Sam. Once the season is over we will find out what the story with Carbery is. If I had to bet I’d say a season long loan to Ulster. If I had to decide myself I’d say a permanent switch to munster with Keatley going to Ulster.
While the game wasn’t the prettiest, it was an important win for Leinster in the grand scheme of things.
Something that popped into my head after the game was the 2011 World Cup final that New Zealand won 8-7 against France. New Zealand were obviously a quality team but hadn’t won in so long, much like Leinster. Much like Leinster, there was an argument for the French team outperforming their counterparts despite the odds.
For sure, this game was not a classic for the purists but in the grand scheme of things with an eye to future finals, I think Leinster will be happy to get the pressure of winning it again off their backs and play better as a result in the future.
@EK: totally agree. It should also be boted that while the highlights reel of their campaign won’t feature much more from Saturday’s match than the relief of a missed drop goal, it will still be a pretty glorious highlights reel featuring great attacking play against exclusively top class teams. The final itself was ground out, but it was raining and there were two teams with incredible defensive systems and a pernickety ref. We don’t have to worry about the quality of rugby Leinster are able to play.
@Conor Paddington: that’s very true Conor the official highlights vid is a joke , just the place kicks , not even how they happened . Nothing about possible yellows etc . I was at the game and Barnes was very frustrating , slow at blowing the whistle , lenient for card situations .. but he at least didn’t have any game changing errors . I’ll have to watch the game in full a couple of times on YouTube now . Overall Leinster looked quite comfortable and I was always confident they’d get the chances near the end . Let not forget Tales was dropping for a draw, I think Leinster would have had too much for Racing if it had gone into extra time