Bernard Brogan bagged 1-6 as Dublin maintained their 100 per cent record in Division 1 of the NFL with this victory over 14-man Monaghan at Parnell Park last night.

Dublin 2-11
Monaghan 1-9

Monaghan had avoided defeat on their last three visits to Parnell Park - winning twice and drawing once - and they made it difficult for Dublin once again, but the sending off of Dessie Mone for a late tackle on Alan Hubbard seven minutes into the second half eventually took its toll as the Leinster champions prevailed.

At the time of the dismissal, the visitors trailed by three points, but they rallied with two points from Rory Woods and an excellent Tommy Freeman goal to take the lead for the first time since Bernard Brogan's 11th minute goal had given Dublin a 1-1 to 0-3 advantage.

But Dublin steadied the ship and were never headed after Kevin McManamon struck a decisive 52nd minute goal after substitute Darren Magee, Ross McConnell and Brogan had been involved in the build-up.

After a sluggish start which saw them trail by 0-1 to 0-3 after seven minutes, Pat Gilroy's charges came good after Brogan's early strike and two points from the St. Oliver Plunkett's clubman late in the first half gave his side a 1-6 to 0-5 buffer at the break.

Apart from the sending off, the visitors weren't helped by the early withdrawal of Dermot McArdle and, later in the first half, Vinny Corey. Hugh McElroy played well in the full forward line, scoring two points in the first half, but he couldn't save the Farneymen from their third defeat of the campaign.

Scorers - Dublin: B Brogan 1-6 (3f); K McManamon 1-0; E Fennell, R McConnell, D Magee, A Hubbard, B McManamon 0-1 each. Monaghan: T Freeman 1-1 (1f); H McElroy, R Woods, C McManus 0-2 each; P Finlay (f), D Hughes 0-1 each.

Dublin: S Cluxton; M Fitzsimons, R O'Carroll, P McMahon; J McCarthy, C O'Sullivan, G Brennan; E Fennell, R McConnell; A Hubbard, MD MacAuley, P Flynn; D Henry, B Brogan, K McManamon. Subs: P Griffin for McCarthy (h-t); B McManamon for Henry (46); D Magee for Fennell (48); H Gill for Griffin (48); K Bonner for Flynn (64).

Monaghan: S Duffy; C Greenan, D McArdle, C Walshe; C McManus, D Mone, N McAdam; D Clerkin, D Hughes; K Hughes, P Finlay, S Gollogly; H McElroy, V Corey, T Freeman. Subs: M McNally for D McArdle (2); R Woods for Corey (29); F Caulfield for McElroy (58); M McElroy for Hughes (67); D Malone for McAdam (68).

Referee: M Deegan (Laois). Tweet

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