Bernard Brogan the difference as Dublin edge Monaghan at HQ

Dublin 1-14

Monaghan 0-16

​By Paul Keane

Dublin star Bernard Brogan made a thrilling return to action with an injury-time winning point at Croke Park to leave the holders two points clear at the head of the Allianz football league.

Bernard Brogan, Dublin, gets past Conor Boyle, Monaghan. Allianz Football League, Division 1, Round 3, Dublin v Monaghan, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach / SPORTSFILE

AllStar Brogan only entered the play mid-way through the second-half in front of 17,080 for his first appearance of 2016 after an extended winter break.

But the veteran didn't need long to make his mark with his 71st minute point bailing Dublin out of a tricky situation after leaking a five-point lead to the Ulster champions.

Remarkably, Dublin had trailed by five points themselves early on after a slow start before turning things around.

Diarmuid Connolly's 42nd minute penalty conversion turned the situation on its head and Dublin now led by five and looked destined to win with some to spare.

But a thrilling performance from Monaghan captain Conor McManus who scored 12 points hauled Malachy O'Rourke's side right back into the contest and they led by one with 68 minutes on the clock.

Monaghan couldn't hold on though and ultimately slipped to their third defeat to Dublin in just over 12 months having met twice in last year's league.

Late points from Cormac Costello and @bernardbrogan sealed a late win for Dublin v Monaghan. https://t.co/viaMhfOpPX pic.twitter.com/CgPiFLCT5q

— sportsfile (@sportsfile) February 27, 2016

Cormac Costello hit the leveller for Dublin before Brogan struck for a fine point, cutting inside his man on the left of goals and splitting the posts from an acute angle.

Dean Rock top scored for Dublin with seven points though it was McManus who stood out and helped Monaghan into an early 0-7 to 0-2 lead.

The previously unbeaten northerners were reeled in late in the half by the free-taking expertise of Rock and trailed 0-10 to 0-9 at half-time.

Things got even worse for Malachy O'Rourke's men when Paul Flynn was brought down for a penalty that Connolly converted, helping Dublin to lead 1-11 to 0-9.

But Dublin backed off from there as Monaghan and McManus in particular asked them serious questions in the run before that thrilling Brogan intervention.

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Scorers for Dublin: Dean Rock 0-7 (0-6f), Diarmuid Connolly 1-0 (1-0 pen), Philly McMahon 0-2, Cormac Costello 0-2, Emmet O Conghaile 0-1, Paul Flynn 0-1, B Brogan 0-1.

Scorers for Monaghan: Conor McManus 0-12 (0-9f), Kieran Hughes 0-2, Owen Duffy 0-1, Kieran Duffy 0-1

Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; David Byrne, Michael Fitzsimons, Philly McMahon; James McCarthy, Cian O'Sullivan, John Small; Denis Bastick, Emmet O'Conghaile; Paul Flynn, Diarmuid Connolly, Tomas Brady; Paddy Andrews, Dean Rock, Cormac Costello.

Subs: Shane Carthy (Naomh Mearnog) for Bastick (h/t), Bernard Brogan for Flynn (42-53), Jonny Cooper for Fitzsimons (53), Brogan for Brady (54), Philip Ryan for Rock (58), Brian Fenton for O'Conghaile (61), Shane Carthy (St Vincent's) for Connolly (66).

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Ryan Wylie, Drew Wylie, Colin Walshe; Kieran Duffy, Fintan Kelly, Neil McAdam; Kieran Hughes, Karl O'Connell; Shane Carey, Dermot Malone, Thomas Kerr; Owen Duffy, Darren Hughes, Conor McManus.

Subs: Dessie Mone for K Hughes (30), Conor Boyle for R Wylie (h/t), Ryan McAnespie for Duffy (47), Conor McCarty for Malone (56), Daniel McKenna for Carey (66).

Referee: Padraig Hughes (Armagh).