Dublin 2-15
Monaghan 1-15
Three points down with five minutes to go, Dublin blasted 1-4 in a frantic finalé to beat Monaghan in style and reach the Allianz Leagues Division 1 final.
Jack McCarron’s goal, early in the second half, put the hosts well clear but both Bernard Brogan and Jack McCaffrey found the net in the closing minutes to leave Monaghan shattered.
Dublin arrived in Clones looking to make it 36 games unbeaten after, last week, eclipsing a record set by Kerry.
‘Dublin Gerry’ was in playful form and Diarmuid Connolly looked relaxed before the big gig.
But Monaghan were up for this one and tore into the Dubs from the first whistle. They went into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead but Dublin clawed themselves back into the contest and trailed by just a point at the break.
Dublin levelled it up early in the second half before Monaghan stormed back and had their fans roaring when Jack McCarron rattled one past Stephen Cluxton to make it 1-9 to 0-7.
Jack Mccarron 🔥🔥🔥
— LG (@flash___g) April 2, 2017
Jack McCarron is some baller! Joe McQuillian will have to dig deep to get the dubs to turn this! #AllianzLeagues #MonaghanGaa
— Garry Doyle (@Garry003) April 2, 2017
Jim Gavin’s side have been in some holes over the past few years and have made a habit of digging themselves out. Just as it was looking bleak, Bernard Brogan popped up with a massive goal.
https://twitter.com/ClaireKeenan3/status/848538301598511107
Monaghan heads never dropped, however, with McCarron and Kieran Hughes arcing over fine scores to push their noses back in front.
Conor McManus and Hughes bot had chances to make it 1-15 to 1-14 but their efforts were flagged wide. Instead, it was Dublin that drove the dagger home.
A sweeping drive up-field saw McCaffrey trade passes before rifling a high drive home.
What a player Jack McCaffrey is. Strike!
— Bunty (@Bunty82) April 2, 2017
All that was left was for Brogan to curl over another point before McManus, now with the pressure off, tagged on a consolation.
https://twitter.com/BingleCorp/status/848543971865485312
Dublin are Unreal
6 pts down
Well into 2nd half
Away from home
Against a supposed 'blanket defence'
And they come back to win by 3#class— Mikie Sheehan (@giosheehan) April 2, 2017
Dublin will try make it 37 unbeaten in the final, later this month.
