Hello and welcome along to our coverage of the first of the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals as Dublin and Monaghan square off at a very wet Croke Park.
The first of the All-Ireland final spots are up for grabs here. Dublin are still aiming to get back to the good times of their six-in-row greatness while Monaghan are seeking new territory having come close in the past.
We’ll have team line-ups for you in the next few moments as we edge closer to the 5.30pm throw-in.
Here’s how both teams will be lining out
The Dublin Senior Football panel has been named for Saturday's All-Ireland Semi Final against Monaghan at Croke Park 👕#UpTheDubs pic.twitter.com/IZjcoDgi4w
— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) July 14, 2023
The Monaghan Senior Football Team lineup for the All Ireland SFC semi-final tomorrow against Dublin at 5:30pm in Croke Park ⚪️🔵 pic.twitter.com/0AHFTAueI6
— @monaghangaa (@monaghangaa) July 14, 2023
And here they are in text format
Dublin
Dublin
1. Stephen Cluxton (Parnells)
2. Eoin Murchan (Na Fianna), 3. Michael Fitzsimons (Cuala), 4. David Byrne (Naomh Olaf)
5. James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams), 6. John Small (Ballymun Kickhams), 7. Lee Gannon (Whitehall Colmcille)
8. Brian Fenton (Raheny), 9. Brian Howard (Raheny)
10. Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes), 11. Seán Bugler (St. Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh), 12. Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street)
13. Cormac Costello (Whitehall Colmcille), 14. Con O’Callaghan (Cuala), 15. Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St. Enda’s)
Subs:
16. Evan Comerford (Ballymun Kickhams)
17. Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock)
18. Tom Lahiff (St. Jude’s)
19. Seán MacMahon (Raheny)
20. Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf)
21. Cian Murphy (Thomas Davis)
22. Daire Newcombe (Lucan Sarsfields)
23. Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne (Cuala)
24. Lorcan O’Dell (Templeogue Synge Street)
25. Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams)
26. Paddy Small (Ballymun Kickhams)
Monaghan
1. Rory Beggan (Scotstown)
2. Ryan O’Toole (Scotstown), 3. Kieran Duffy (Latton – Captain), 4. Ryan Wylie (Ballybay)
5. Karl O’Connell (Tigh Thalainn), 6. Conor Boyle (Clontibret), 7. Conor McCarthy (Scotstown)
8. Karl Gallagher (Scairbh Na gCaorach), 9. Killian Lavelle (Clontibret)
10. Stephen O’Hanlon (Carrickmacross), 11. Michael Bannigan (Acadh Na Muileann), 12. Ryan McAnespie (Scairbh na gCaorach)
13. Jack McCarron (Scotstown), 14. Gary Mohan (Truagh Gaels), 15. Dessie Ward (Ballybay)
So, how do you see this one going? Let us know in the comments section below
- Dublin
- Monaghan
As you let the pre-match nerves simmer, have a look at this awesome piece by Declan Bogue as he sits down for a chat with Monaghan legend Eugene ‘Nudie’ Hughes.
‘Nine times out of ten, I am positive’: Monaghan legend Nudie Hughes on life, football, and illness
Meath have just captured the Tailteann Cup after a tough battle with Down. Stay tuned for the full match report on The42 shortly.
Monaghan changes: Kieran Hughes, Darren Hughes and Conor McManus all start. Ryan O’Toole, Karl Gallagher and Jack McCarron all on the bench.
Dublin changes: Sean Bugler is out of Dublin match-day 26. Paddy Small comes in to start and Ross McGarry is on the bench.
Throw-in! Dublin v Monaghan
1 min: Dublin 0-0 Monaghan 0-0
And off we go in Croke Park. Monaghan go on the first attack through Karl O’Connell. It comes to nothing as both teams feel each other out.
2 mins: Dublin 0-1 Monaghan 0-0
First attempt at a score comes to Monaghan as Kieran Hughes tries to slice it over. However it skids off the post and they get their first wide.
Dublin then come down the field and get the opening point through Cormac Costello.
5 mins: Dublin 0-1 Monaghan 0-0
Ryan McAnespie earns a free for Monaghan which summons Rory Beggan from his position between the sticks. It comes back into play off the post, and the eventually comes into the hands of Michael Bannigan. But his shot is blocked and it eventually ends in a line ball for Monaghan.
7 mins: Dublin 0-1 Monaghan 0-1
Stephen O’Hanlon gets Monaghan off the mark with a lovely kick. Both teams are settling into the game now.
8 mins: Dublin 0-2 Monaghan 0-1
Free awarded in a scoreable spot and Costello doubles his tally with a nice right-footed effort.
11 mins: Dublin 0-3 Monaghan 0-1
Costello feeds the ball to Paul Mannion after Dublin win possession back after Beggan fumbles a pass.
The play ends with Paddy Small arrowing a brilliant shot over the bar, and now Dublin lead by two.
12 mins: Dublin 0-3 Monaghan 0-1
Conor McManus stands over a free from a tricky angle in front of the Cusack Stand. He tries to sweep it in from a similar position to the brilliant free he took against Armagh. But it just doesn’t curl enough and that’s another wide for Monaghan.
14 mins: Dublin 0-3 Monaghan 0-2
POST!
Unlucky for Conor McCarthy. He does very well to get a shot off while being fouled, and he almost pulled it off but for the woodwork. They get a point from a McManus free from it to reduce the gap to one again.
15 mins: Dublin 0-3 Monaghan 0-2
BLACK CARD!
Dublin lose Niall Scully after tripping Conor McCarthy. Pretty straight forward call; Dublin can have no complaints there. And that could be a big momentum swing in Monaghan’s favour.
18 mins: Dublin 0-3 Monaghan 0-3
Monaghan goal chance!
Ryan McAnespie caught in a moment of indecision as he stormed his way through. He takes the shot a second too late and it’s blocked out.
But it’s not all bad, as Beggan slings over the ’45 to level the sides for the second time.
19 mins: Dublin 0-4 Monaghan 0-3
Cormac Costello edges Dublin ahead again after fetching a fine mark.
20 mins: Dublin 0-4 Monaghan 0-3
McCarthy kicks the ball wide, and Monaghan really need to be making more of this numerical advantage while Scully is off for 10 minutes.
22 mins: Dublin 0-5 Monaghan 0-3
Costello is on fire. He turns beautifully after collecting a pass and drives it high inside the back post. Dublin restore their two-point lead.
24 mins: Dublin 0-5 Monaghan 0-4
Beggan comes up for another ’45 and puts it over to pull one back for Monaghan. But Scully will be back on shortly.
25 mins: Dublin 0-6 Monaghan 0-4
Costello scores from another free following a foul on Con O’Callaghan. Two between them again.
26 mins: Dublin 0-6 Monaghan 0-5
Bannigan clips a shot inside the post to reduce it to one again.
27 mins: Dublin 0-7 Monaghan 0-5
Mannion scores after grabbing a mark. Scully re-enters the action and it looks like Ciarán Kilkenny is coming in shortly too. Another big game player who could make a major contribution for Dublin.
30 mins: Dublin 0-7 Monaghan 0-6
Dublin change: Ciarán Kilkenny comes in for Scully. Meanwhile, Gary Mohan releases a boomer over the bar and it’s back to a one-point game.
33 mins: Dublin 0-7 Monaghan 0-7
Began levels it with another ’45 after Stephen Cluxton fumbled an attempt at a point and dropped the ball out over the endline.
35 mins: Dublin 0-7 Monaghan 0-7
Bad miss from James McCarthy as two additional minutes of injury time are announced.
35 mins: Dublin 0-8 Monaghan 0-7
Costello points from a free again.
Half-Time! Dublin 0-8 Monaghan 0-7
Dublin 0-8 Monaghan 0-7
Great first half, considering the conditions.
Cormac Costello is in great form for Dublin while Beggan is in fine scoring form from his ’45 efforts.
Vinny Corey’s side will know however, that Dublin tend to do most of their damage in the first quarter of the second half so they will need to keep focused and sharp after the restart.
Second Half: Dublin 0-8 Monaghan 0-7
37 mins: Dublin 0-8 Monaghan 0-8
Superb point from McAnespie. That was a really tricky angle and we’re back to level-pegging in the early minutes of the second half.
41 mins: Dublin 0-9 Monaghan 0-8
Costello point from a brilliant Dublin counter-attack. It started deep within their own territory after McCarthy carried the ball forward with pace. Costello carried possession further before tapping it over off his left to put Dublin back in the lead again.
44 mins: Dublin 0-10 Monaghan 0-8
Dublin change: Jack McCaffrey on for Colm Basquel. Con O’Callaghan fists the ball over the bar to put two between them.
Monaghan change: Karl Gallagher in for Dessie Ward.
45 mins: Dublin 0-10 Monaghan 0-9
McManus points from a free as Jack McCarron comes in to replace Kieran Hughes.
54 mins: Dublin 0-10 Monaghan 0-10
LEVEL!
Frantic stuff in Croker. The ball is slipping out of gloves all over the place in the greasy conditions and a free has been awarded against O’Callaghan for handling the ball on the ground.
McManus coolly dispatches the free over the bar.
55 mins: Dublin 0-11 Monaghan 0-10
And just like that, Dublin are ahead again. They come thundering down the pitch from the next attack to put the ball over through O’Callaghan. We’re heading for squeaky bum time.
57 mins: Dublin 0-12 Monaghan 0-10
Lee Gannon palms the ball over after a rapid turn that left his marker Stephen O’Hanlon for dead. Back to a two-point game again.
58 mins: Dublin 0-12 Monaghan 0-11
McManus with a super shot to bring them back to the minimum again. They just have to keep in touch with Dublin as we enter the final 10 minutes of normal time.
60 mins: Dublin 0-12 Monaghan 0-12
LEVEL!
McManus hits two on the bounce, this one from a mark.
61 mins: Dublin 0-13 Monaghan 0-12
Brian Fenton hits a quick response. And now there’s a free in for Dublin after some indecision in the Monaghan defence that leads to a pick up off the ground.
We could be heading for a two-point game again.
62 mins: Dublin 0-14 Monaghan 0-12
Mannion converts to push the gap to two again. Monaghan appear a bit rattled.
64 mins: Dublin 0-15 Monaghan 0-12
McCaffrey steps up to extend Dublin’s lead to three points at a pivotal moment in the game. Monaghan need a response quickly. They’re struggling with their kickouts and Dublin tails are up.
66 mins: Dublin 0-15 Monaghan 0-13
McCarron with a great point for Monaghan. There could have been a goal on there after he turned inside his man with space in front of them. But they needed a score to settle them and bring them back into the contes.
69 mins: Dublin 0-16 Monaghan 0-13
Dublin are engaging the patient play that they’re famous for, and it’s paying off as Fenton kicks it high and over the bar.
Dean Rock has entered the play for Mannion as Monaghan need to start hunting for a goal if they want to stay in this.
70 mins: Dublin 0-16 Monaghan 0-13
Five minutes additional time has been announced but Dublin have a free in a very kickable spot. Rock will take it.
71 mins: Dublin 0-17 Monaghan 0-13
And Rock puts it over to put four between them in injury time.
GOAL! Dublin 1-17 Monaghan 0-13 (Rock ’73)
75 mins: Dublin 1-17 Monaghan 0-13
And that is surely that.
It’s a messy goal but they all count as Rock tips the ball into the net to put a gloss on the scoreline. It’s the All-Ireland final for Dublin as Monaghan’s season ends.
76 mins: Dublin 1-17 Monaghan 0-13
Rock has a late ’45 but sends it wide, not that it will make much difference on the final result.
Full-Time: Dublin 1-17 Monaghan 0-13
Dublin 1-17 Monaghan 0-13
So it’s a first All-Ireland final since 2020 for Dublin after another one of their trademark late pushes for victory. Once they opened the gap to three points, Monaghan started to struggle and then Rock’s late goal blew them away entirely.
Well that’s all from us, folks. We hope you enjoyed today’s coverage, and don’t forget, we’ll be back to do it all again tomorrow for the other semi-final between Kerry and Derry.
Before you go, have a read of Declan Bogue’s match report live from Croke Park. Goodbye for now!
