Goals in either half from Bernard Brogan and Kevin McManamon were vital as Dublin maintained their unbeaten run thanks to a five-point win at Parnell Park.
Brogan’s goal helped the hosts to a 1-06 to 0-05 interval lead, and although Dessie Mone saw red following a second yellow card on the restart Monaghan bounced back.
A Tommy Freeman goal edged Monaghan in front, and despite goalkeeper Shane Duffy denying Dublin of five goal chances, McManamon’s strike paved the way for a Dublin win.
This game was in the melting pot throughout as the visitors were eager to get there second win in seven days following a hard-earned victory against Tyrone.
Seamus McEnaney's charges started brightly at the Donnycarney venue and the Dubs struggled to come to terms with an industrious Monaghan attack.
Dublin opened the scoring thanks to a Bernard Brogan point, but Paul Finlay, Hugh McElroy and Conor McManus sent over a trio of quick-fire scores as Monaghan led by 0-03 to 0-01, seven minutes in.
The Leinster champions closed the gap. They engineered the first real goal-scoring chance when McManamon blazed through on goal but net minder Duffy advanced off his line to pull off a superb block.
With Monaghan under increased pressure in defence, the Dublin attack eventually broke through as Bernard Brogan sidefooted the ball to the net to push the Metropolitans 1-01 to 0-03 ahead.
Dublin continued to press hard, but only registered one point from their next three attempts - David Henry offloading to Brogan to put two points between the sides.
A further brace of scores, including a pointed free from Brogan, edged Dublin into a goal advantage with 11 minutes remaining in the half.
Monaghan needed a score to stop the rot and after Darren Hughes pinched possession from Cian O'Sullivan, he launched a speedy attack which cut the deficit to two points.
But Brogan continued to be Dublin's go-to man and he quickly brought his tally to 1-04 with the last two points of the half to give his side a 1-06 to 0-05 buffer at the break.
Monaghan burst out of the blocks in the second half, but despite lording possession and showing good work-rate early on they were failing to reap dividends on the scoresheet.
Rory Woods eventually broke the deadlock in the 41st minute with his first point following some interplay with Hugh McElroy, to cut the gap to a goal.
The visitors were dealt a major blow when Dessie Mone was dismissed for a second yellow card after a late challenge on Alan Hubbard, but somehow rose to the challenge.
Freeman's goal soon after was the catalyst Monaghan needed to give them a sudden 1-07 to 1-06 lead.
However, a series of wasteful kicks in front of the posts proved to be the visitors undoing, with Dublin a lot more accurate in the final quarter.
Brogan continued to find time and space to score, while McManamon's goal - as the game entered the final quarter - was the spur to a Dublin victory.
Taking a pass from midfielder Ross McConnell, McManamon was ice cool as he slotted the ball to the Monaghan net to ensure a 2-07 to 1-07 lead for Pat Gilroy's men.
Dublin edged four points clear, and although an ever ready Duffy stopped goal-bound efforts from McManamon, Darren Magee and Brogan in the closing ten minutes, Dublin held out for five-point victory.
