ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION I: MONAGHAN 1-11 DUBLIN 1-22

Monaghan and Dublin will meet again in next weekend’s semi-finals after the dominant Dubs had a big win in Clones. An early Brian Fenton goal set the tone for an emphatic victory for Dublin, which saw them overtake Monaghan into second place and remain in contention for a third consecutive league title.

Jim Gavin’s side had 11 scorers, including four substitutes, as they inflicted a first league defeat at St. Tiarnach’s Park on Monaghan since Dublin last won there in 2011.

Dublin made an explosive start, with well-worked moves creating points for corner-forwards Kevin McManamon and Bernard Brogan, before Brian Fenton got on the end of an attack led by defenders Jack McCaffrey and Eoin Culligan to drill home the opening goal.

Monaghan got off the mark on five minutes through Owen Duffy, before both sides had goal chances, with Vincent Corey denied by a block at one end and Rory Beggan keeping Paul Flynn out at the other.

A Dean Rock free restored Dublin’s five-point lead and although frees by Beggan and Paul Finlay kept Monaghan in touch, Flynn then landed a fine point from distance.

A McManus free was quickly cancelled out by Bernard Brogan, before Diarmuid Connolly kicked a trademark long-range point. Owen Duffy got one back for Monaghan, but Dublin hit the last three points of the half.

Philly McMahon, Rock (from a free) and McManamon were the scorers, as Dublin opened up a 1-9 to 0-5 half-time lead, while Monaghan were hit by a further blow when Dessie Mone received a black card in the 32nd minute.

Dublin’s dominance was even more pronounced after the restart and they quickly struck with a stylish outside-of-the-boot effort from Connolly, and although Beggan replied from a ’45, points by Rock (free), Emmet Ó Conghaile and Jonny Cooper extended the Dubs’ lead.

McMahon, Flynn, a brace from substitute Tomás Brady and another Rock free continued the one-way traffic.

Monaghan finally ended a 25-minute barren spell with a point by sub Thomas Kerr and a good score by Kieran Hughes, but Rock converted another free and Fenton had a shot at goal tipped over by Beggan.

Ó Conghaile and Kieran Hughes were both shown black cards in the final quarter, before Monaghan belatedly got going with points by Ryan McAnespie and McManus (free), either side of a Darren Hughes goal. Rock and sub Davy Byrne added points to the visitors’ growing tally, before Monaghan sub Shane Carey rounded off the scoring.

With Tyrone and Kerry and Donegal and Mayo playing out draws, Monaghan still finished third, so these teams will renew acquaintances in next Sunday’s Allianz Football League Division I semi-finals.

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Scorers for Monaghan: D Hughes 1-0, R Beggan 0-2 (1f, 1 ’45), C McManus 0-2f, O Duffy 0-2, P Finlay 0-1f, K Hughes 0-1, S Carey 0-1, T Kerr, 0-1, R McAnespie 0-1

Scorers for Dublin: D Rock 0-6 (5f), B Fenton 1-1, K McManamon 0-2, D Connolly 0-2, B Brogan 0-2, T Brady 0-2, P McMahon 0-2, P Flynn 0-2, J Cooper 0-1, E Ó Conghaile 0-1, D Byrne 0-1

MONAGHAN: R Beggan; D Wylie, K Duffy, R Wylie; K O’Connell, V Corey, F Kelly; N McAdam, K Hughes; D Mone, D Hughes, P Finlay; D Malone, O Duffy, C McManus (Capt.). Subs: P McKenna for Mone (black card, 33), R McAnespie for Finlay, D Clerkin for McAdam (both 42), P McGuigan for D Wylie, T Kerr for Malone (both 48), S Carey (0-1) for K Hughes (black card, 64).

DUBLIN: S Cluxton (Capt.); R O’Carroll, E Culligan, J Cooper; J McCarthy, J Small, J McCaffrey; MD MacAuley, D Bastick; P Flynn, D Connolly, B Fenton; K McManamon, D Rock, B Brogan. Subs: P McMahon for Culligan (19), E Ó Conghaile for MacAuley (42), C Kilkenny for McManamon (48), T Brady for Bastick (51), D Byrne for Ó Conghaile (black card, 56), N Devereux for Cooper (58).

Referee: M Deegan (Laois)

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Report: Colm Shalvey

This report 1st appeared on GAA.ie