Dublin came from ten points down to grab an unlikely 1-15 apiece draw with Monaghan in a dramatic encounter at wet and windy Croke Park.

When Conor Boyle fired over the visitors’ 15th point in the 67th minute, the underdogs led by seven but the All-Ireland champions finished strongly with a goal from substitute Kevin McManamon and points from Colm Basquel, Sean Bugler (2) and Davy Byrne – the latter’s equaliser arriving in the tenth of six minutes of injury time.

Nine points down after an hour, Dessie Farrell’s men somehow pulled it out of the fire with a sensational late rally. On the other hand, in between that late flurry of match-rescuing Dubs scores, Monaghan would have been deeply frustrated to have seen Conor McManus called back as he bore down on goal only to be instead awarded a long-range free-in, which was missed.

With Storm Ciara in the air, Seamus McEnaney’s charges produced a devastating first-half surge to storm into a commanding 1-9 to 0-3 half-time lead, landing seven successive points during a wonderful purple patch. A sea of white swarming all over the pitch, the visitors totally controlled the opening period and could have been further ahead at the break.

The Oriel men could not have asked for a better start: McManus scuffing the ball to the net at the Hill 16 end after collecting a superb Ryan McAnespie pass.

Kilmacud Crokes trio Liam Flatman, Darragh Mullin and Dan O’Brien all came into Dublin’s attack from the start, in place of Paddy Small, McManamon and Paul Mannion, while Monaghan were able to start Kieran Hughes at full forward instead of Christopher McGuinness, his red card from last weekend rescinded.

Micheal Bannigan cancelled out Dean Rock’s free, then added his second, Dessie Ward firing over to make it 1-3 to 0-1 after ten minutes. McAnespie and Niall Kearns got forward to curl over further Monaghan points and McManus thumped over a beautiful score on 20 minutes as the visitors led by eight points.

O’Brien registered Dublin’s first score from play in reply to a McAnespie strike (advanced mark) but the Ulster county kicked on with points from goalkeeper Rory Beggan (free) and Conor McCarthy. With Darren Hughes black-carded on 35 minutes, Rock pulled back a Dublin point and Evan Comerford denied McAnespie a second Monaghan goal on the stroke of the short whistle.

Ryan Wylie of Monaghan tackles Dublin's Kevin McManamon

Wind behind them and with an extra man temporarily, the Dubs came at Monaghan at the start of the second half and were rewarded with points from Rock (two) and Ciaran Kilkenny before Beggan nailed a trademark monster free from 65 metres into the wind and Darren Hughes re-entered the fray.

Rock and McManus exchanged frees before James McCarthy audaciously registered an excellent point off the outside of his right boot for the hosts, McManus hitting back from an advanced mark, seven points between the teams going into the fourth quarter, 1-12 to 0-8.

McManus (free) brought his tally to 1-4 and Beggan scooped over a ‘45’ on the hour as the away team led by nine. Sean Bugler, Rock (free) and Niall Scully pulled back points but full back Boyle replied superbly, Basquel on target for the Dubs with what looked like it would surely be a consolation.

Substitute McManamon latched onto the breaking ball to halve the deficit with a trademark poacher’s goal in the 69th minute and Bugler’s second point left just two in it heading into six minutes of injury time. Bugler pulled back another and - after Beggan sent a '45' wide - Byrne delivered the dramatic leveller off his left boot into the Hill, Monaghan - who had led from the first minute until the 80th - cruelly denied their third successive victory over the Sky Blues.

Dublin - E Comerford; M Fitzsimons, D Byrne (0-1), E Murchan; J McCarthy (0-1), B Howard, J Small; B Fenton, C Kilkenny (0-1); N Scully (0-1), L Flatman, D Mullin; D O’Brien (0-1), P Andrews, D Rock (0-6, 4f). Subs: A Byrne for P Andrews, P Mannion for D Mullin, S Bugler (0-3) for L Flatman, C Basquel (0-1) for D O'Brien, K McManamon (1-0) for A Byrne. 

Monaghan - R Beggan (0-3f); D Wylie, C Boyle (0-1), K Duffy; K O’Connell, R Wylie, M Bannigan (0-2); D Hughes, N Kearns (0-1); R McAnespie (0-2, 1m), C McCarthy (0-1), D Ward (0-1); D Malone, K Hughes, C McManus (1-4, 0-2f, 0-1m). Subs: A Mulligan for M Bannigan, S Carey for K Hughes, C McGuinnes for C McCarthy, P Keenan for D Ward, K Hughes for N Kearns.

Referee - C Branagan.

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