They say that lightning doesn’t strike twice, but for Jack McCarron, it did. A virtuoso performance against Dublin, 2-6 for the day, including that last gasp free, cemented Monaghan’s Division 1 status for a ninth successive season, a throwback to that memorable winning score against Galway at the same juncture last year.
Earlier in the game, the Currin man slotted home a crucial penalty to give Monaghan a seven point lead, 2-9 to 0-8 after 50 minutes.
However, it was his second goal that will have people talking. Having latched on to a long kick pass inside the Dublin full back line, McCarron was 1v1 with Dubs keeper Michael Shiels, and in an instant, he lobbed the bar over the keeper and into the net, in another throwback to a similar effort against Dublin in Croke Park four years ago. Again, lightning struck twice. That put Monaghan 3-10 to 0-13 up with 15 minutes to play.
Sean Jones also made his first senior start for Monaghan, and marked it with a low daisy cutter into the net after 10 minutes. He was substituted at half time for his cousin Andrew Woods, and it was he who won the last gasp free for Monaghan which was converted by McCarron. A good day for Inniskeen.
Dublin were menacing for all of this game. Despite the concession of the goals, they were always in this game, with Dean Rock top scoring with 1-9, including the goal from the penalty that brought Dublin level in injury time.
However, the day belonged to McCarron. He took Philly McMahon’s advice, and picked his moments when it mattered most!
MONAGHAN: Rory Beggan, Drew Wylie, Conor Boyle (0-1), Ryan Wylie, Ryan McAnespie, Dessie Ward, Niall Kearns, Darren Hughes (0-1), Kieran Hughes (0-2), Conor McCarthy (0-1), Jack McCarron (2-6, 3f), Shane Carey (0-1, 1f), Fintan Kelly, Gary Mohan (0-1, 1f), Sean Jones (1-0).
Subs: Karl O’Connell for Fintan Kelly, Killian Lavelle for Darren Hughes
DUBLIN: Michael Shiels, Michael Fitzsimons, David Byrne, Eoin Murchan, James McCarthy, Jonny Cooper, Robert McDaid, Brian Fenton, Lee Gannon(0-2), Brian Howard (0-1), Sean Bugler (0-1), Niall Scully, Cormac Costello (0-3), Ciaran Kilkenny, Dean Rock (1-9, 8f).
Subs: Lorcan O’Dell for Cormac Costello, Cian Murphy for Robert McDaid, Brian O’Leary for Niall Scully, Alex Wright for Brian O’Leary.
Words – Ultan Sherry, Photo Credit Fintan McTiernan
By Majella Boyd Tue 29th Mar
