Dublin 2-12 Wicklow 0-9:This is how Paul Caffrey runs the Dublin team. Like all managers searching for that ultimate goal, it begins with small steps. Last year's successful O'Byrne Cup campaign unearthed a new full back in Ross McConnell and another sibling from the House of Brogan for the forward line.
Two more players would do very nicely this time around as they attempt to make up the last few inches required to finally land an All-Ireland. So, on a bitterly cold Saturday night in Donnycarney, Caffrey sought just one thing - honesty.
"For a first outing you would have to be pleased," said Caffrey afterwards.
There were immediate positives sprinkled amongst an error-strewn performance that included 14 wides against vastly inferior opposition.
Resident corner back Paul Griffin is away for the coming months so Stephen O'Shaughnessy didn't require a second invitation to reclaim a starting berth last held before injury interceded in 2006. He was tasked with shadowing Wicklow's most prized jewel, Tommy Gill. The Rathnew man was kept to a single point while O'Shaughnessy's troublesome shoulder was tested with a ferocious, and late, hit on John McGrath.
The main Caffrey experiment saw a fringe midfielder at full forward. "Declan O'Mahony has been around for a while and he needs to make an impression this year. He played midfield in the Blue Stars and Eamon Fennell probably won that battle with him. He gives us an option inside," said Caffrey.
"But again, we haven't played any football. One training session. Maybe a little bit more thought has to go in to the quality of the ball that goes in to him. He was honest out there and came out around the middle in the second half when he gave us something as well."
Overall, that sounds like a pass.
Paul Bealin, Carlow manager and All-Ireland winning Dublin midfielder in 1995, noted in these pages last Saturday that the current group require another midfield option to supplement the Ciarán Whelan and Shane Ryan partnership. Darren Magee is not back yet so Fennell received his chance. Smart and physically imposing, he is definitely worth another look.
As Dublin pulled clear thanks to a punched Barry Kennedy goal after 15 minutes, when Jason Sherlock's shot fell short, the likes of Shane Ryan, Collie Moran and last year's rookies, McConnell and Bernard Brogan, re-enforced their worth.
Early in the second period Bernard was joined by his elder and younger brothers as the Brogan clan celebrated a unique occasion. Paul is the latest from the dynasty and he relieved the injured Graham Norton before producing one burst through the middle that earned a kickable free for Bernard. Alan came in to post a couple of late scores, perhaps spurred on by Bernard's all round excellence in shooting five points.
With Conal Keaney on holidays, no sign of Mark Vaughan or Bryan Cullen just yet and Whelan taking his usual break until the league cranks up, Caffrey was almost in a jovial mood ahead of the next round against Westmeath.
Scoring contributions from Paul Earls and Stephen Hurley kept Wicklow afloat, as did the presence of goalkeeper Billy Norman, but he too was overshadowed by Stephen Cluxton, who made three top-quality saves to deny the visitors.
The killer second goal came on 50 minutes when Sherlock and then Alan Brogan contributed to put Pat Burke inside the fullback line.
Tentative, small steps, but a decent opening night, nonetheless, for the big show.
DUBLIN:S Cluxton; N O'Shea, R McConnell, S O'Shaughnessy; P McMahon, C Moran (0-1),G Norton; S Ryan, E Fennell; B Brogan (0-5, three frees), P Burke (1-0), D Lally (0-1); B Kennedy (1-1, 0-1 free), D O'Mahony (0-1), J Sherlock (0-1). Subs:P Brogan for Norton (34 mins, inj), A Brogan (0-2)for Kennedy (42 mins), P Flynn for McMahon (56 mins), C Daly for Fennell (60 mins), J O'Brien for Sherlock (63 mins).
WICKLOW:B Norman; P Dalton, D Power, A Byrne; R Finn; D Ó hAnnaidh, JP Dalton; J Stafford, T Walsh; JP Kelly (0-2, two frees),D Daly, S Hurley (0-2); T Gill (0-1), P Earls (0-3, two frees),J McGrath. Subs: S Furlong (0-1)for Hurley (48 mins), N Mernagh for P Earls (60 mins), T Burke for R Finn (64 mins).
Referee: E Kinsella(Laois).
