Dublin player ratings
Stephen Cluxton: The vast majority of the veteran ‘keeper’s restarts were of the highest order. If there was a pocket of space, Cluxton invariably found it. 7.5
Eoin Murchan: Got the better of Dessie Ward when they did come into contact and kept driving at the Monaghan defence deep into the game. 7.5
Michael Fitzsimons: Touch-tight to Conor McManus but it didn’t matter as the Clontibret man conjured something out of nothing on several occasions which his marker could do little about. 6.5
David Byrne: Jack McCarron gave him the slip for a late score but otherwise a solid day in the corner. 6.5
James McCarthy: Awesome second half. Had a hand in several of Dublin’s scores and always played the right pass. 8
John Small: Ryan McAnespie pulled him out of the middle to good effect in the second period, but he had some great defensive moments too. 7.5
Lee Gannon: Never put a foot wrong all day. Got on a heap of ball, won breaks, kept tabs on Conor McCarthy at different stages and his 57th point pushed Dublin two ahead. 8
Brian Fenton: Took a while to break Gary Mohan’s chains but when he did the Dublin midfielder was brilliant and really hurt Monaghan in the last quarter. 8
Brian Howard: Neat and tidy throughout without exerting too much influence on the game. 6.5
Paul Mannion: Never chanced his weaker right foot, but still hit two important frees in either half. Never got away from Kieran Duffy. 6
Paddy Small: Hit a lovely first-half score but his primary role was stopping Karl O’Connell’s raids and did a solid job. 7.5
Niall Scully: Black-carded for a hand trip on Conor McCarthy and his day was over after 29 minutes, making way for Ciaran Kilkenny. 4
Cormac Costello: The pick of the Dublin forwards. Top-scored with 0-7 and gave Conor Boyle his fill of fit. So accurate every time and scorched Monaghan on the scoreboard. 8.5
Con O’Callaghan: Found Killian Lavelle a tough customer but eventually influenced the game with two second-half points and a brilliant pass for Dean Rock’s goal. 7
Colm Basquel: On-fire this year, but a lot of the Dublin attacks went through other men. Ryan Wylie deserves credit here too. 5
Subs:
Ciaran Kilkenny: Offered greater potency to the Dublin attack. 7.5
Jack McCaffrey: Made quite an impact. Incisive and his 64th point pushed Dublin’s lead out to three. 7.5
Lorcan O’Dell: Offered fresh legs in the latter stages. 5
Dean Rock: Right place, right time for Dublin’s late goal. 6
Tom Lahiff: Not on long enough to be rated.
....
Monaghan player ratings
Rory Beggan: Dublin really put the squeeze on his kick-outs in the second half, but Beggan still hit some brilliant re-starts – short and long – and chipped over three classy ‘45s. 8
Darren Hughes: The Scotstown man’s defensive positioning had to be on point for the entire game, and it was. A warrior with an incredible footballing IQ. 8
Kieran Duffy: Exceptionally disciplined man-marking job on Paul Mannion. Brilliant year for the Latton defender. 7.5
Ryan Wylie: Never allowed Colm Basquel to get into the game and also had spells on Paddy Small and Lorcan O’Dell. 7
Karl O’Connell: Dublin had his number. Every time he tried to break enemy lines, he hit a Sky Blue break wall, but he kept asking questions. 6
Conor Boyle: Tried everything to stop Cormac Costello but it was one of those days the Clontibret defender had met his match. 5.5
Conor McCarthy: A bit like O’Connell on the other wing, lively first quarter before Dublin shut him down. 6
Kieran Hughes: The veteran midfielder was never going to finish the full 70 minutes but won his fair share of ball in a very productive 46 minutes. Unlucky not to score early on. 6.5
Killian Lavelle: A smart match-up by Vinny Corey, Lavelle followed Con O’Callaghan everywhere and kept him quiet until Dublin’s danger man cut loose after the 45-minute mark. 6.5
Stephen O’Hanlon: Got Monaghan off the mark with a confident point, but struggled to hold Dublin’s runners as the game wore on. 6
Michael Bannigan: Unpicked the Dublin defence for a point in the first half. Ran himself to a standstill. Had a brilliant year for Monaghan. 6
Ryan McAnespie: A few mistakes in the opening half, had an impressive third quarter, the high point of which was his solo run and point in the 38th minute. 6.5
STAR MAN: Conor McManus: Exceptional economy from ‘Mansy’. Hit three crucial frees, converted a fantastic 'mark' and slung over a beauty from open play. Couldn’t have done much more. Was it his last dance in a Monaghan jersey? 8.5
Gary Mohan: A thunderous first-half point from 45 metres, Mohan had a smashing 50 minutes on Brian Fenton before the Dublin midfielder turned the screw. 7
Dessie Ward: Kept under wraps by Eoin Murchan and was turned over a couple of times in the second half. 5.5
Subs:
Karl Gallagher: Did well. Always showed for Beggan’s rangy kick-outs. 6.5
Jack McCarron: Grabbed a point but might have done better with a couple of possessions. 6
Ryan O’Toole: Came on after the hour mark – when Dublin were in the ascendancy. 5
Sean Jones: Worked hard in the final 10 minutes. 5
Colm Lennon: Not on long enough to be rated.
