Senior footballers into league decider after storming finish

DUBLIN 2-15 MONAGHAN 1-15

Dublin have reached the NFL Division 1 final for the fifth year in succession when coming back ‘from the dead’ to defeat Monaghan in dramatic fashion at St Tiernach's Park, Clones on Sunday.

The Dubs will face Kerry, convincing victors over Tyrone and reaching the final on scoring difference, in the decider in Croke Park next Sunday (4.0), with Kildare and Galway meeting in the Division 2 final at 2pm.

Supersub Jack McCaffrey hit a late, late goal for the Dubs to seal the deal after a superb last ten minutes from Jim Gavin’s men in front of a crowd of 13,227.

After 48 minutes Monaghan led 1-12 to 0-9 with Jack McCarron grabbing the home side’s goal.

However, Dublin raised their game in impressive fashion and eventually reeled in their opponents.

Bernard Brogan hit the Dublin goal in the 49^th minute when he clinically slide the ball past Rory Beggan, following great work and timed release of the ball by the influential Ciaran Kilkenny.

The Dubs lost Diarmuid Connolly with a black card in the 50^th minute but continued to press with points from Kilkenny and James McCarthy to make it 1-11 to 1-12 with just over 15 minutes to go.

A superb score from Kieran Hughes and another from McCarron gave Monaghan a three-point lead but back game Dublin again with points from Paddy Andrews, Philly McMahon and a Dean Rock free.

Just on 70 minutes James McCarthy released Jack McCaffrey and the Clontarf flyer fired to the net to make it 2-14 to 1-14 and as good as guarantee a berth in the decider for the Dubs.

Monaghan led 0-7 to 0-6 at the break after a very lively opening half.

Jack McCarron opened the scoring for the hosts in the third minute at the end of a good counter-attack move after Dublin had lost possession in attack.

Dublin could have had a goal chance but the handpass from Niall Scully to Dean Rock did not hit its target exactly as the Ballymun Kickhams man lost his footing close to goal.

Ciaran Reddin replied for the Dubs before the pacey Karl O’Connell edged Monaghan back in front.

Further points from Kieran Hughes and McCarron (free) had Monaghan 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after 16 minutes.

Dublin then played their best football of the opening 35 minutes with Brian Fenton and Dean Rock (free), following good work by James McCarthy, cutting the gap before Paddy Andrew brought the sides level as Jim Gavin’s men played first time football.

Dean Rock was presented with a goal chance by Kevin McManamon but his near post effort was under-hit and parried out for a ‘45’ by keeper Rory Beggan.

Ten minutes before the break the run of Shane Carey was not tracked and but for a combination of him fumbled the pass and the alertness of Stephen Cluxton Dublin could have found themselves in trouble.

The counties swapped points to the break with Dean Rock (free) and James McCarthy on target for the Dubs and McCarron (two, one free) replying on each occasion to give the Farney County an interval lead.

SCORERS - Dublin: D Rock 0-5 (0-5f), B Brogan 1-1, J McCaffrey 1-0, C Reddin, P Andrews, J McCarthy 0-2 each, B Fenton, C Kilkenny, P McMahon 0-1 each. Monaghan: J McCarron 1-9 (0-4f), K Hughes 0-2, K O'Connell, C McManus (0-1f), F Kelly 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; M Fitzsimons, D Byrne, P McMahon; J McCarthy, C Reddin, E Lowndes; B Fenton, C Kilkenny; P Flynn, K McManamon, N Scully; D Rock, P Andrews, C McHugh. Subs: B Brogan for McHugh (35), D Connolly for Scully (ht), J McCaffrey for Reddin (41), P Mannion for McManamon (47), C O'Sullivan for Connolly (BC, 50), MD Macauley for Flynn (65).

MONAGHAN: R Beggan; F Kelly, D Wylie, R Wylie; D Ward, V Corey, K O'Connell; D Hughes, K Hughes; C Walshe, S Carey, G Doogan; O Duffy, J McCarron, C McManus. Subs: N McAdam for Walshe (inj 20), K Duffy for D Hughes (BC, 30), D Malone for O Duffy (54), T Kerr for Ward (59), C McCarthy for Doogan (68).

REF: J McQuillan (Cavan).