Thrilling finale sees goal-hungry Monaghan edge out Dublin in Croke Park

Ciarán McNulty capped a remarkable Croke Park finale with the winning point as underdogs Monaghan got their Allianz National Football League campaign off to a flier.

In a repeat of last year's All-Ireland semi-final, Vinny Corey's side held their nerve in a terrific second-half with McNulty coming off the bench and registering 1-01 in a memorable cameo.

His first score was a cracking 59th minute goal and his next was the winning point four minutes into stoppage time, a clever breakaway score after Brian Fenton was caught out with a rare mistake in Dublin's defence.

Jack McCarron scored Monaghan's first goal and player of the match Stephen O'Hanlon struck Monaghan's other major in what amounts to a huge for a side widely tipped to battle relegation this season.

Corey was without a large number of key players who are either injured, resting up or retired but it didn't bother them at Croke Park where a new look side turned in a huge display.

As for Dessie Farrell's Dublin, they won't panic with several of their main figures still to return also and they were delighted to welcome back All-Ireland winning captain James McCarthy when he came on in the second-half.

Dublin went with just seven of their starters from last year's All-Ireland final defeat of Kerry.

David O'Hanlon took over from the absent Stephen Cluxton in goals while Greg McEneaney and Cian Murphy replaced McCarthy and John Small in the half-back line.

Fenton partnered up with Ciaran Kilkenny at midfield while there were starts in attack for Ross McGarry and Lorcan O'Dell.

Paul Mannion wasn't listed among the substitutes while there was no Brian Howard either.

But with 27 different players putting up their hands in the O'Byrne Cup for further inclusion, Farrell had plenty