Thursday, March 17, 2011

NFL - Monaghan 1-09 Dublin 0-13

Dublin 0-13 Monaghan 1-09
Played four won four and top of the league table.  It can’t get much better than that.  On a very slippy pitch the Dubs showed the metal in coming from behind and holding off the pressure of a Monaghan attack towards the end of the game.
It all started so differently.  The Dubs getting off to an excellent start.  They kicked four points in no time & looked to be in a different class to the northerners.  During this period the Dublin full forward line of Quinn, Connolly & Brogan ran the farney men ragged.  But Monagahn rallied and began to win more breaking ball around the middle.  And in what could have proved a turning point in the game, the Dubs defence were caught out leaving Clucko exposed & the Monaghan full forward got to a high ball before the Parnells keeper and flicked over his head to the net.  The farney men would leave at half time 1-05 to 0-06 & Pat Gilroy must have been scratching his head as to how his team so dominant early on could go 15 minutes without scoring.
The Dubs manager made changes at half time with Alan Brogan coming on for Mossy Quinn and Bryan Cullen on for Paul Flynn.  But it was Monaghan 1st out of the blocks and went into a 3 point lead only 5 minutes into the 2nd period.  Giller made a further change introducing Paddy Andrews for an out of sorts Michael Darragh.  McAuley seemed frustrated with the game but there will be better things from the Ballyboden man as the year progresses.  The substitution coincided with a point from Bernard as the Dubs started to claw their way back.  The Dubs upped their game and Alan Brogan who was in inspired form kicked a blinder from the out the field.  Within minutes he soloed the ball along the sideline found Dara Nelson, a sub for an injured Declan Lally, who pointed.  Paddy Andrews followed up with a further point & the Dubs were now 2 points clear.  A moment of pride followed for the Brogan family as Paul was introduced replacing Ross O’Carroll.
With 10 minutes to go Diarmuid Connolly found himself on the wrong side of the referee’s black book and had to leave the field on a 2nd yellow.  It was tough on the Vincents forward who had worked so hard through the game and had shown many moments of tremendous skill.  Monaghan rallied & applied more & more pressure.  But the Dubs defence was excellent putting their farney opponents under continuous pressure as they sought opportunities to shoot.  This was typified as we approached injury time as Darren Daly put in a huge block to stop a goal bound shot.  And this resilience saw the Dubs home and looking forward to Sunday’s game against the Mayo men.  Here’s hoping for the ride to continue.
Dublin - Stephen Cluxton, Ross O’Carroll (Paul Brogan (55)), Sean Murray, Darren Daly, Paul Casey, Ger Brennan, Declan Lally (0-01) (Dara Nelson (30) (0-01)), Denis Bastick, Barry Cahill, Paul Flynn (Bryan Cullen (35)), Kevin McManamon (0-01), Michael Darragh Macauley (Paddy Andrews (45) (0-01)), Bernard Brogan (0-04), Diarmuid Connolly (0-03), Tomás Quinn (0-01) (Alan Brogan (35) (0-01)). Subs: D Nelson for Lally (inj 29), B Cullen for Flynn (ht), A Brogan for Quinn (ht), P Andrews for Macauley (44), P Brogan for O’Carroll (inj 55).
Monaghan - M Keogh, C Walshe, Darren Hughes (D Freeman (70)), K Duffy, V Corey, D Mone (0-01), David Hughes, D Clerkin, N McAdam, J Turley (T Freeman (55) (0-01)), M Downey (0-01), D Morgan (O Lennon (35)), C McGuinness (0-01), P Finlay (0-03), C McManus (1-02).

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