Allianz National Football League Division One
Monaghan 2-13 Dublin 1-13 27/1/19
Monaghan turned league and All-Ireland champions Dublin over for the second Allianz NFL campaign in a row in a cracking encounter in Clones on Sunday.
Monaghan fielded ten of the team that fell just short in their 2018 All-Ireland semi-final against Tyrone, while Dublin started eight of their side that retained the Sam Maguire Cup and 12 who appeared at some stage in that final.
Niall Scully hit the net early on as Dublin raced into a five-point lead, but after gradually closing the gap before half-time, Monaghan turned things around in a pulsating second half. Goals by league debutant Stephen O’Hanlon and Shane Carey won it for the hosts in front of more than 10,500. O’Hanlon and Conor McManus made a big impact off the bench as Monaghan started their league campaign on a high.
Jack McCarron top-scored for Monaghan and with Dermot Malone and Fintan Kelly among the scorers and the defence proving hard to breach, Malachy O’Rourke’s side earned an opening-day win that delighted the home support.
Monaghan travel to Roscommon for their second-round game next Sunday.
Monaghan: R Beggan; K Duffy, C Boyle, R Wylie; K O’Connell, B Kerr, C Walshe (Capt.); D Hughes, F Kelly (0-1); R McAnespie, Jack McCarron (0-5, 4f), S Carey (1-0); D Garland, D Malone (0-1), M Bannigan (0-2, 1f, 1m).
Subs: C McManus (0-4, 2f, 2m) for Bannigan, S O’Hanlon (1-0) for Garland (both 43), D Ward for O’Connell (60), C McCarthy for Malone (68), N McAdam for McAnespie (72).
Dublin: E Comerford; M Fitzsimons, E Lowndes, J Cooper; C Mullally, B Howard, J Small; B Fenton (0-1), MD MacAuley; P Flynn (0-1), C O’Callaghan (0-4, 1f), N Scully (1-0); C Costello (0-1f), P Mannion, D Rock (0-4, 2f).
Subs: R McDaid for MacAuley (temporary, 29), R Basquel (0-2) for Flynn (48), C McHugh for Rock (50), C O’Connor for MacAuley (55), P Andrews for Costello (60).
Referee: D Coldrick (Meath). * Replaced at half-time by P Hughes (Armagh).
By cshalvey Sun 27th Jan
