Senior footballers cruise into league semi-finals at Croker

DUBLIN 1-22 MONGHAN 1-11

Dublin booked their berth in the NFL Division 1 semi-finals with this win over Monaghan in St Tiernach’s Park, Clones on Sunday afternoon before a crowd of 10,066.

The Dubs had been the last team to defeat the Farney County in league action back in the spring of 2011 and they repeated the victory on this occasion - the two counties will meet again in the semi-final next Sunday (with Cork v Donegal in the other semi-final).

Dublin controlled most of the game with Darren Hughes’ late goal putting a better look on the scoreboard from the home side’s perspective.

Dublin led at the break 1-9 to 0-5 after playing some enterprising football in attack and were solid in defence.

Early points from Kevin McManamon and Bernard Brogan eased the Dubs in front before Brian Fenton (making his first NFL start) fired to the net in the fourth minute, following good work by Jack McCaffrey and Dean Rock, to catapult Dublin into a 1-2 to 0-0 lead.

Dublin almost scored a second goal a few minutes later but Rory Beggan did well to deny Paul Flynn.

A Dean Rock free extended Dublin’s lead before converted frees from Beggan from long range and Paul Finlay cut the deficit for the Farney County men.

A fine Flynn score put saw Dublin respond and before the 25^th minute Brogan and Diarmuid Connolly, a super point from 45 metres, gave Jim Gavin’s men a 1-6 to 0-4 lead.

Towards the conclusion of the opening half a trio of points from sub Philly McMahon, Rock (free) and McManamon moved Dublin seven points clear before the break, 1-9 to 0-5.

Dublin opened well in the second half with a Connolly point inside 20 second following good graft by Denis Bastick.

Beggan’s successful ‘45’ briefly stalled Dublin before they unleashed  eight points in-a-row through Rock (free), Emmett O Conghaile, Jonny Cooper, McMahon, his second of the afternoon, Flynn, sub Tomás Brady, a Rock free and Brady again to move 1-18 to 0-6 clear and out of sight by the 59^th minute.

SCORERS - Dublin: D Rock 0-6 (0-5f), B Fenton 1-1, P Flynn, D Connolly, K McManamon, B Brogan, P McMahon, T Brady 0-2 each, J Cooper, E Ó Conghaile, D Byrne 0-1 each. Monaghan: D Hughes 1-0, R Beggan (0-1f, 0-1 ‘45’), O Duffy, C McManus (0-2f) 0-2 each, P Finlay (0-1f), K Hughes, T Kerr, R McAnespie, S Carey 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; E Culligan, R O’Carroll, 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 (20), E Ó Conghaile for Macauley (43), C Kilkenny for McManamon (49), T Brady for Bastick (52), D Byrne (Ballymun) for Ó Conghaile (bc 58), N Devereux for Cooper (58).

MONAGHAN: R Beggan; D Wylie, K Duffy, R Wylie; K O’Connell, V Corey, F Kelly; N McAdam, D Hughes; D Malone, D Mone, P Finlay; K Hughes, C McManus, O Duffy. Subs: P McKenna for Mone (bc 34), D Clerkin for McAdam (43), R McAnespie for Finlay (43), P McGuigan for D Wylie (49), T Kerr for Malone (49), S Carey for K Hughes (bc 65).

REF: M Deegan (Laois).

The GAA has confirmed fixture details for next weekend's Allianz Football League Division I semi-finals.

Both games will be played as a double-header at Croke Park next Sunday.

Sunday, April 12

Allianz Football League Division I Semi-Finals

Cork v Donegal, Croke Park, 2pm (TG4)

Dublin v Monaghan, Croke Park, 4pm (TG4)