Dublin will take on Cork in the Allianz NFL decider after a pair of entertaining semi-finals at Croke Park
A sparse crowd of just 20,000 witnessed the Dubs hang on for a 0-17 to 0-16 victory against a determined Monaghan side that refused to throw in the towel.
Four late points left Dublin three clear of the Farneymen but Monaghan pushed all the way, pulling within one before the referee blew the final whistle.
Dublin led 0-9 to 0-7 at half-time, with Conor McManus keeping Monaghan in the game en route to a heroic eight-point haul.
Dean Rock had three points at the break, while Philly McMahon surged forward for a brace of first-half points, although Cian O’Sullivan should have added to Dublin’s advantage but shot wide of goal just before the interval.
The lead was three after a Brian Fenton point to open the second half, but three more points from McManus and three from sub Dick Clerkin helped Monaghan seize a 56th-minute lead 0-14 to 0-13.
But Dublin had another gear and Rock, along with Emmet O’Conghaile and Jack McCaffrey, kicking the crucial scores that see the Blues keep their bid for a third league title in a row well and truly alive.
Earlier in the day, Cork overcame Donegal in a high-scoring battle by 4-11 to 0-19.
The Rebels found the net at crucial stages of the game, with Tom Clancy finding the net after Donegal had opened up a four-point lead thanks to the boots of Michael Murphy and Paddy McBrearty.
The sides went in level at 1-8 to 0-11 points but Cork seized control after the interval with a pair of well-taken goals.
Colm O’Neill was quickest to react after the ball struck the upright to fist home, before Brian Hurley found the top corner with fine strike to put clear daylight between the sides.
Donegal kept plugging away though, and with Murphy tallying eight points the gap was cut to just three when a fine save by Ken O’Halloran from McBrearty halted the Ulster men’s momentum. Minutes later, Cork were down the other end with O’Neill finding the net to put the result beyond doubt.
