Dublin relegated as Monaghan land late winner

Monaghan preserved their Allianz Football League Division 1 status with a dramatic win over Dublin at a sun-drenched Clones.

Monaghan had led for most of the game, which saw both sides finish with 14 men, but Dublin drew level with an injury-time penalty by Dean Rock as they seemed to time their run to perfection.

Fittingly, however, it was Jack McCarron who capped a superb individual performance by nailing a 45-metre free deep into added time to save Monaghan's long-held top-flight status, just as he had done in last year’s relegation play-off against Galway.

McCarron finished with 2-06 to his name, including the deftest of lobs for his second goal on the three-quarter mark.

Monaghan were depleted by the absence of several key players, including top scorer Conor McManus, and when Dublin raced ahead early on, with Seán Bugler and Cormac Costello looking lively up front, they looked like firm favourites.

Monaghan dug in, however, with points from Conor McCarthy and Darren Hughes getting the home crowd going, before Seán Jones weaved his way past a couple of tackles to slot home the opening goal on 10 minutes.

Shane Carey made it 1-03 without reply for Monaghan and although Rock ended a 12-minute scoreless spell for Dublin, Conor Boyle and McCarron replied to stretch the hosts' lead.

Rock and Costello brought the Dubs back within two at half-time (1-07 to 0-08), but Monaghan started the second half strongly with quick points from Gary Mohan and Kieran Hughes, before the former won a penalty that saw McCarron coolly push them seven clear.

Dublin responded almost instantly with a hat-trick of points by Costello, Bugler and impressive sub Lee Gannon, but McCarron’s brilliant lob made it 3-10 to 0-13 in Monaghan’s favour heading into