Dublin saw off the challenge of Tyrone by 0-18 to 0-17 to claim the Allianz FL Division 1 title at Croke Park.

In a game that went end to end for the entire 70 minutes, it was points from substitute Dean Rock (2) and Jack Caffrey that swung the match in the Dubs favour.

Five times in the second half, the sides were level, and Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan was a worthy recipient of the match of the match award as he kicked five frees over the bar.

The sides were level 0-10 each at half time and there was nothing to separate them throughout the game.

Tyrone came into this match having won 11 of the 12 finals they have been in under Mickey Harte, an unbelievable statistic that was put on the line today. The big news before the throw in was that Stephen O'Neill didn't start and he was replaced by Conor McAliskey, while Jason Whelan came in for Paul Flynn for the Dubs.

Within a minute of the start, Dublin were in front when Bernard Brogan pointed a close range free. Shortly after Cian O'Sullivan broke forward, but his low shot went wide. At the other end Sean Cavanagh scored from play to level matters by the fifth minute of the match.

Both sides were guilty of bad misses on front of goals early on and we had to wait until the ninth minute for the next score and it was yet another Brogan free, this time 30 metres from the Tyrone goal. Diarmuid Connolly followed this up with two fine points from play to put three between the sides as Dublin enjoyed more possession.

Good work by Mark Donnelly found McAliskey in space and the full forward blasted over the bar to make it 0-4 to 0-2 after 15 minutes. A minute later Matthew Donnelly got on the score sheet with a point off his left to leave the minimum between the sides.

Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan came forward to take a free from 45 metres and he duly slotted over the bar to leave it all square after 17 minutes. Bryan Cullen responded for Dublin with an exquisite effort off his left.

Brogan then hit his third free of the match after Connolly was fouled on the 20 metre line. A good run by Michael Dara Mcauley ended with Paddy Andrews hand passing over the bar as the Dubs went 0-7 to 0-4 ahead.

The gap was back to two when Sean Cavanagh broke forward and pulled on a cross field ball first time and it flew over the bar. Tyrone were on the score sheet again soon after when Martin Penrose pointed a close range free.

At the other end Brogan hit free number four over the bar, which was in an identical position from the other three, 0-8 to 0-6, 24 minutes on the clock. Morgan then missed a free from 48 metres out. A late tackle by Ger Brennan resulted in Cavanagh kicking a free from 13 metres to reduce the gap to the minimum.

Dublin went forward from the kick out and Jason Whelan's effort was well saved by Morgan, but Mannion pulled on the rebound and it went over the bar, two-point game once again.

Connolly wasted a good chance for Dublin before Conor Gormley raced through and pit over a fine point, which was cancelled out by an excellent effort by Mannion.

Morgan was called up for another free and this time his effort sailed over from 46 metres, 0-10 to 0-9. The sides were level at the break when McAliskey let fly while off balance, but his effort went off the post and over the bar, 0-10 each, which incidentally was the same score as the first game at half time.

Morgan was called up once again for the first opportunity of the second half and the Tyrone 'keeper slotted over from his usual distance with ease. Mannion converted a free from 13 metres to restore parity in the 40th minute.

The Tyrone defence done well to snuff out a couple of Dublin attacks as the Leinster side put on the pressure, but it came to no avail and Tyrone were next to score when McAliskey soloed forty yard before tapping the ball over the bar, 0-12 to 0-11, 44 minutes gone.

Mannion was continuing his good form and a fine move involving him and Connolly ended with the corner forward kicking point number four of the match. However, Morgan was staying with the Dublin forward in the scoring stakes when he converted a '45 a minute later, 0-13 to 0-12.

Brogan then hit his fifth over the bar, before missing an easier one straight on front of the posts. A good move involving Sean Cavanagh resulted in Mark Donnelly fisting over the bar, 0-14 to 0-13, 20 minutes remaining.

A good run by Kevin McManamon ended with Brogan's shot being blocked out for a '45, but Cluxton's effort went wide. The sides were level soon after when substitute Philly McMahon floated over a fine point.

If Morgan was getting tired from coming forward so much it wasn't showing as he sent over another free for his fifth of the afternoon, but more importantly, it edged Tyrone ahead once again. Cluxton had another opportunity after McCarthy was fouled on the 45 metre line and this time he sailed the ball over the bar, sides' level at 0-15 each with seven minutes remaining.

Penrose pointed a free in the last five minutes as Tyrone kept edging in front, but this was cancelled out by one of the scores of the match when Substitute Dean Rock jinxed his way through a couple of angles and fired over from a tight angle. The Ballymun forward followed this up with another fine score as the Dubs got their noses in front just at the right time, with two minutes remaining.

The excellent Jack McCaffrey brought a fine save out of Morgan at the expense of a point. Sean Cavanagh made it a one-point game in injury with a mammoth effort of his left, but this was to be the last action of the match as Dublin were crowned league champions.

Dublin - S Cluxton (0-1f); K O'Brien, J Cooper, D Daly; J McCarthy, G Brennan, J McCaffrey (0-1); M D MacAuley, C O'Sullivan; J Whelan, D Connolly (0-2), B Cullen (0-1); P Mannion (0-4, 1f), P Andrews (0-1), B Brogan (0-5f). Subs: S Carthy for Whelan, K McManamon for Cullen, D Bastick for O'Sullivan, P McMahon (0-1) for MacAuley, D Rock (0-2) for Brogan.

Tyrone - N Morgan (0-5, 4f, 1'45); C McCarron, C Clarke, P J Quinn; C Gormley (0-1), D Carlin, Matthew Donnelly (0-1); C Cavanagh, Joe McMahon; Mark Donnelly (0-1), S Cavanagh (0-4, 1f), Justin McMahon; M Penrose (0-2f), C McAliskey (0-3), P McNiece. Subs: A Cassidy for Carlin, P Kane for Justin McMahon, K Coney for McNiece, R McKenna for Gormley, D McCurry for Cassidy.

Referee - Marty Duffy. Tweet

Most Read Stories