After a 2 year spell Dublin find themsleves back in the hunt for Sam Maguire after a tense battle with Monaghan
Dublin 1-17 Monaghan 0-13
All Ireland Senior Football Semi Final
Croke Park, Dublin
For Dublin supporters it may well have felt like longer, but after 2 seasons Dessie Farrell has steered his Senior Football panel to his second All Ireland Final in 4 years.
While Dublin and Monaghan were still level by the 60th minute, it was Dublin’s experience in the big games that eventually got them across the line to qualify for the decider in two weeks time. A peach of a score from Brian Fenton and a less than attractive goal by Dean Rock was finally enough to be the difference between the sides at the final whistle.
With the game mainly played at Monaghan’s pace, Dublin had to show their trademark patience for large spells, breaking down Monaghan’s attacks to counter. And leading by 1 point at the half time break set up a nail biting second session.
Ryan McAnespie levelled the game on the restart but Dublin were quick to respond, seeing Cormac Costello and Con O’Callaghan share a brace. But they couldn’t seem to shake Monaghan off as the Ulster side continued to press up the field. Conor McManus was on hand to convert 2 dead balls, but Dublin replied from the resulting kick out.
O’Callaghan was on hand for that score and Lee Gannon followed it with a score of his own to double the advantage. Another McManus brace cancelled the defecit but Monaghan never edged in front as Dublin continued to play with cool heads. Fentons two score were either side of points from Paul Mannion and Jack McCaffrey, giving Dublin their widest margin.
It will be a game quickly forgotten as Dublin supporters now concentrate on the elusive scramble for All Ireland Final tickets, with a close eye on tomorrow match up between Kerry and Derry.
Scorers for Dublin:
Cormac Costello 0-07 (3f, 1 mark)
Dean Rock 1-01 (1f)
Brian Fenton 0-02
Con O’Callaghan 0-02
Paul Mannion 0-02 (1f, 1 mark)
Lee Gannon 0-01
Paddy Small 0-01
Jack McCaffrey 0-01
Scorers for Monaghan:
Conor McManus 0-05 (3f, 1 mark)
Rory Beggan 0-03 (3 ‘45)
Stephen O’Hanlon 0-01
Michael Bannigan 0-01
Ryan McAnespie 0-01
Gary Mohan 0-01
Jack McCarron 0-01
Dublin
1. Stephen Cluxton (Parnells)
2. Eoin Murchan (Na Fianna)
3. Michael Fitzsimons (Cuala)
4. David Byrne (Naomh Olaf)
5. James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams)
6. John Small (Ballymun Kickhams)
7. Lee Gannon (Whitehall Colmcilles)
8. Brian Fenton (Raheny)
9. Brian Howard (Raheny)
10. Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes)
26. Paddy Small (Ballymun Kickhams)
12. Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street)
13. Cormac Costello (Whitehall Colmcilles)
14. Con O’Callaghan (Cuala)
15. Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St. Endas)
Dublin Substitutes:
17. Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock) for Scully (29)
20. Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf) for Basquel (44)
24. Lorcan O’Dell (Templeogue Synge Street) for Small (63)
25. Dean Rock (Ballymun) for Mannion (69)
18. Tom Lahiff (St Jude’s) for Costello (72)
Monaghan
1. Rory Beggan (Scotstown)
6. Conor Boyle (Clontibret)
3. Kieran Duffy (Latton)
4. Ryan Wylie (Ballybay)
5. Karl O’Connell (Tyholland)
11. Michael Bannigan (Annaghmullan)
7. Conor McCarthy (Scotstown)
20. Darren Hughes (Scotstown)
9. Killian Lavelle (Clontibret)
10. Stephen O’Hanlon (Carrickmacross)
17. Kieran Hughes (Scotstown)
12. Ryan McAnespie (Emyvale)
18. Conor McManus (Clontibret)
14. Gary Mohan (Truagh)
15. Dessie Ward (Ballybay)
Monaghan Substitutes
8. Karl Gallagher (Emyvale) for Ward (44)
13. Jack McCarron (Scotstown) for Kieran Hughes (46)
2. Ryan O’Toole (Scotstown) for Boyle (60)
19. Sean Jones (Inniskeen) for McAnespie (66)
26. Colm Lennon (Ballybay) for Lavelle (69)
