Senior footballers progress to league final

DUBLIN 0-17 MONAGHAN 0-16

Reigning champions Dublin eked out victory in this NFL Division 1 semi-final at Croke Park on Sunday to reach the topflight decider for the third year in-a-row.

The Dubs, who won the last two league titles, never hit top gear in front of an attendance of 20,013 against a very determined and hungry Farney County side smarting from last weekend's heavy defeat in Clones.

Through the brilliant accuracy of Conor McManus Monaghan threatened to come from behind to claim victory late on but four points in quick succession for Dublin between the 61st and 67th minutes did enough to see Jim Gavin's side to victory.

Two Dean Rock frees made it 0-15 to 0-14 to Dublin with just over five minutes of normal time remaining before Emmett O Conghaile split the posts from long-range and Jack McCaffrey clipped another to give his side a three-point cushion.

It was just enough to see the Dubs into the decider against Cork, who impressed in their semi-final victory over Donegal, in two weeks time.

Goal chances were at a premium with both Diarmuid Connolly and Cian O'Sullivan, with a more clearcut opportunity, failed to beat Rory Beggan in the opening half - a goal at either stage may have ignited a Dublin attack that was well contained and frustrated by Monaghan's defensive cover.

There was nothing between the sides thoroughout with Dean Rock's accuracy from deadball central to Dublin's victory.

At half-time the Dubs led 0-9 t0 0-7 with Brian Fenton's 35th minute point concluding the first half scoring - a move that saw Dublin move the ball with more forward pace and accuracy that they showed for much of the game.

Dublin were made battle all the way to the line in the second half with that four-point salvo just inside the last ten minutes seeing them to victory.

SCORERS - Dublin: D Rock 0-7 (0-6f, 0-1 '45'), K McManamon, B Fenton, P McMahon 0-2 each, P Flynn, D Bastick, E Ó Conghaile, J McCaffrey 0-1 each. Monaghan: C McManus 0-8 (0-3f), D Clerkin 0-3, K Hughes 0-2, P Finlay (0-1f), N McAdam, R Beggan (0-1f) 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; Jonny Cooper, David Byrne, P McMahon; J McCarthy, J Small, J McCaffrey; D Bastick, C O'Sullivan; P Flynn, D Connolly, B Fenton; C Kilkenny, D Rock, K McManamon. Subs: MD Macauley for C O'Sullivan (45), P Andrews for K McManamon (50), E Ó Conghaile for D Bastick (53), D Daly for David Byrne (53), C Costello for B Fenton (60), T Brady for P Flynn (69).

MONAGHAN: R Beggan; K Duffy, T Kerr, R Wylie; F Kelly, V Corey, K O'Connell; N McAdam, D Hughes; D Mone, P Finlay, O Duffy; R McAnespie, K Hughes, C McManus. Subs: D Clerkin for T Kerr (ht), D Malone for O Duffy (41), S Gollogly for R McAnespie (43), P McKenna for P Finlay (63), D McKenna for K O'Connell (69).

REF: R Hickey (Clare).