Allianz Football League Division One

Monaghan 3-9 Dublin 1-14

By Paul Keane at Croke Park

Old foes Monaghan returned to haunt Dublin in the Allianz Football League though it was a new name, Ciaran McNulty, that suckered the All-Ireland champions with the late matchwinner this time.

This was Dublin's first Division 1 game since being relegated following a loss to Monaghan in March of 2022.

It was defeat to the Farney County again for Dessie Farrell's crew though they mightn't have expected rookie substitute McNulty to inflict the damage.

The Inniskeen talent came off the bench for a heavily understrength Monaghan and firstly hit the net before then sniping the winning point four minutes into stoppage time.

It was a terrific cameo though Jack McCarron also registered 1-2 on the evening. Both of those players were outdone by the brilliance of Stephen O'Hanlon though, the experienced attacker consistently tormenting Dublin with his hard running through the centre of their defence.

One of those runs ended with a goal for O'Hanlon while another early in the second-half drew a save from the Dublin goalkeeper.

Monaghan's win was all the more impressive because for various reasons they were without talisman performers Conor McManus, Rory Beggan, Conor McCarthy, Conor Boyle, Karl Gallagher, Shane Carey, Darren Hughes and Kieran Hughes.

As a result, many had tipped them to battle relegation this term but they are masters at proving the doubters wrong and will take a lot from this lion-heart display in their 10th consecutive season in Division 1.

Their next game is against Kerry, at home, while Dublin will have to hit the road for a clash with Mayo in Castlebar.

The All-Ireland champions, who defeated Monaghan at the semi-final stage last year, won't lose too much sleep over this opening round defeat.

They were understrength too and Dessie Farrell was only able to call upon seven of his starters from last year's All-Ireland final.

There was no Stephen Cluxton, Michael Fitzsimons, John Small, Brian Howard or Paul Mannion though Sam Maguire Cup winning captain James McCarthy did at least make his seasonal return as a second-half substitute.

There were starts for multiple All-Ireland medallists Jack McCaffrey, Brian Fenton, Ciaran Kilkenny and Cormac Costello and it was Costello that struck a Dublin goal after just four minutes.

With league debutant Luke Breathnach on board, and rookie Greg McEneaney in defence, Dublin moved into a 1-4 to 0-2 lead.

Monaghan looked to be in real trouble, particularly as they landed a series of point attempts short and struggled with their accuracy, but eventually hit back with goals themselves from a McCarron penalty and then O'Hanlon.

Michael Hamill won the penalty for Monaghan after being fouled by a combination of McEneaney and Cian Murphy. For the second goal, Bannigan beat McCaffrey on the right wing and played in the onrushing O'Hanlon who slammed the ball to the net.

That left it as a level game at half-time, 2-2 to 1-5, and while Monaghan were a touch fortunate not to be behind, they did waste around 10 scoring opportunities in the first 35 minutes.

The second-half was even more competitive with the momentum swinging both ways at various stages.

Both teams unloaded their bench and Monaghan got the greatest kick from theirs, McNulty conjuring 1-1 and Andrew Woods also scoring a point.

With the scores tied in the 74th minute, Monaghan's winner came from a rare Fenton error in Dublin's half. Fenton tried to offload with a hand-pass but Bannigan intercepted and launched a counter-attack that led to McNulty's winning point.

Scorers for Monaghan: Jack McCarron 1-2 (1-0 pen), Ciaran McNulty 1-1, Stephen O'Hanlon 1-1, Micheal Bannigan 0-3 (0-2f), Darren McDonnell 0-1 (0-1f), Andrew Woods 0-1.

Scorers for Dublin: Cormac Costello 1-4 (0-4f), Ross McGarry 0-2 (0-1 mark), Luke Breathnach 0-1 (0-1 mark), Ciaran Kilkenny 0-1, Eoin Murchan 0-1, Cian Murphy 0-1, Paddy Small 0-1, Colm Basquel 0-1, Killian O'Gara 0-1, David O'Hanlon 0-1 (0-1f).

Monaghan: Darren McDonnell; Ryan O'Toole, Killian Lavelle, Ryan Wylie; Ryan McAnespie, Kieran Duffy, Kevin Loughran; Joel Wilson, Gary Mohan; Stephen O'Hanlon, Micheal Bannigan, Michael Hamill; David Garland, Jack McCarron, Jason Irwin.

Subs: Ciaran McNulty for McAnespie 32, Stephen Mooney for Garland 46, Andrew Woods for McCarron 57, Karl O'Connell for Wylie 57, Colm Lennon for Irwin 68.

Dublin: David O'Hanlon; Lee Gannon, Sean MacMahon, Eoin Murchan; Greg McEneaney, Cian Murphy, Jack McCaffrey; Brian Fenton, Ciaran Kilkenny; Paddy Small, Lorcan O'Dell, Ross McGarry; Cormac Costello, Con O'Callaghan, Luke Breathnach.

Subs: Colm Basquel for Breathnach 46, James McCarthy for McCaffrey 46, Killian O'Gara for O'Dell 55, Niall Scully for McGarry 61, Theo Clancy for Murchan 67.

Referee: Paul Faloon (Down).