Holders Dublin are through to the Division One final after a thrilling 0-17 to 0-16 victory over Monaghan at Croke Park.

The Dubs prevailed by eleven points when these two sides met at Clones last weekend but it was a different story today as their performance level dipped considerably while Monaghan - spurred on by Man of the Match Conor McManus (0-8) and half-time substitute Dick Clerkin - mounted a determined challenge.

In the end, Jim Gavin's men deserved to progress but Monaghan can negotiate the N2 this evening with their heads held high. However, the fact that neither side picked up a single card of any hue - yellow, black or red - also tells us a lot about the lack of intensity evident at GAA HQ on the second Sunday of April. With the championship so close, all four teams were shadow boxing to a large extent in today's double-header, thus the spectacularly high scorelines!

At the end of a low-key opening period, Dublin led by two points, 0-9 to 0-7, despite never coming out of second gear. Corner back Philly McMahon nailed two points in the first half, while Dean Rock sent over three from placed balls.

Both sides made a couple of late changes to their starting XVs: Dublin brought in David Byrne and Kevin McManamon in place of Rory O'Carroll and Bernard Brogan respectively while Monaghan started Thomas Kerr and Ryan McAnespie instead of Drew Wylie and Dermot Malone.

Paul Finlay opened the scoring with a routine free from the hands from in front of the posts and McMahon replied in the fourth minute. In between, Rory Beggan had to be vigilant as he came off his line to deny Diarmuid Connolly an early Dublin goal.

Paul Flynn took a pass from Connolly to edge the hosts in front in the eighth minute but McManus dummied and finished off his left boot two minutes later to make it two points apiece; Kieran Hughes' precise strike had the Ulster team in front again in the 13th minute.

Dublin retook the lead thanks to points from McMahon and Denis Bastick before Rock's third strike at the posts finally yielded a point (free) - 0-5 to 0-3. McManamon cancelled out a simple McManus free and a Rock '45' sailed over the bar after Neil McAdam had steered over an inspirational Monaghan point from midfield. With ten minutes left in the first half, Dublin led by two: 0-7 to 0-5.

McManus' third point of the match had the gap down to the minimum with seven minutes left in the first half but Dublin replied through Rock (free) after Cian O'Sullivan's goal effort had trickled to the left and wide. A stunning long-range free from Monaghan custodian Beggan halved the leeway and the visitors should have been level but Hughes dropped his shot short.

At the other end, Brian Fenton struck the last score of the opening half. Monaghan had another late opportunity before the short whistle but this time it was Dessie Mone who fluffed his lines.

Rock (free) opened the second-half scoring and he followed up with another one after half-time sub Clerkin and Kieran Hughes had hit two Monaghan points inside 30 seconds. Fenton stroked over his side's twelfth score but McManus replied with a soaring finish at the other end, one that came back down with snow on it.

McManus reduced the gap to one with his second successive point and the Clontibret clubman then traded stunning points with McManamon: 0-13 to 0-12 with 50 minutes played. Token Dublin defending allowed Clerkin to equalise off his left foot on 53 minutes.

Incredibly, a McManus free edged the underdogs ahead but back came Dublin with a brace of Rock frees and points from substitute Emmet O Conghaile and wing back Jack McCaffrey. Trailing by three points with two minutes left, the visitors refused to give up and a third Clerkin point followed by McManus' eighth score (free) left just a point between them as we went into two minutes of injury time.

The Farney County had a couple of late chances but substitute Dermot Malone was off target from a nigh on impossible angle and Darren Hughes failed to get an adequate touch to sub Stephen Gollogly's late popshot as he tried in vein to deflect the ball to the net. Close but no cigar!

Dublin - S Cluxton; J Cooper, D Byrne, P McMahon (0-2); J McCarthy, J Small, J McCaffrey (0-1); D Bastick (0-1), C O'Sullivan; P Flynn (0-1), D Connolly, B Fenton (0-2); C Kilkenny, D Rock (0-7, 6f, 1'45), K McManamon (0-2). Subs: M D Macauley for C O'Sullivan, P Andrews for K McManamon, E O Conghaile (0-1) for D Bastick, D Daly for D Byrne, C Costello for B Fenton, T Brady for P Flynn.

Monaghan - R Beggan (0-1f); K Duffy, T Kerr, R Wylie; F Kelly, V Corey, K O'Connell; N McAdam (0-1), D Hughes; D Mone, P Finlay (0-1f), O Duffy; R McAnespie, K Hughes (0-2), C McManus (0-8, 3f). Subs: D Clerkin (0-3) for T Kerr, D Malone for O Duffy, S Gollogly for R McAnespie, P McKenna for P Finlay, D McKenna for K O'Connell.

Referee - R Hickey.

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