OUCH. Malone. Contenders? Greystones' 34-5 defeat of the Ulster side has already set standards for anyone travelling to Dr Hickey Park this season.
Richie Murphy, having been set up for a big fall due to his remarkable industry last season which yielded 397 points, rode the challenge with a try, two penalties and three conversions, as his side aggressively disposed of their visitors in the first round of Division Two matches over the weekend.
Inspired by captain John Murphy, who knows that, at the end of the day, burying teams is not just for pleasure, Greystones moved from a 14-0 lead after 10 minutes to savage Malone in all departments.
Points scored could have a critical bearing on the final standings, and no doubt that was on Greystones' mind. So, too, was putting down a marker for any other side who must travel to Wicklow this season.
In all, wins for NIFC, Greystones, Bective, Clontarf and Skerries have already set the trend in a crucial three match, pre New Year run. Based on last year's trends, it's likely that any more than two defeats will put a team out of the running for the top two places.
Like Greystones, Clontarf and Bective also refused to put on the brakes in their respective games against University College Cork and Highfield, which yielded a total of 71 points.
Nicky Barry's four penalties and two conversions for Clontarf, along with Mick Fitzsimon's two tries, put the students to the sword in their first ever AIL Division Two game.
Having been in contention for the first 20 minutes, UCC went on to experience a lesson in the school of hard knocks. Clontarf continued to eat into the weakened side, having led 18-6 at the break, and left the field with an 18 point advantage.
Bective obviously relished their trip to Highfield. Impressively reinforcing their tag as promotion candidates, the Dublin visitors eagerly ran in four tries against their hosts at Model Farm Road. Derek D'Arcy collected 12 points with two penalties and three conversions, while Ben Kealy and Des Jackson ran in a try apiece.
Fullback Sean Cahill and scrum half Darragh Bradley combined to give Sunday's Well a commanding win over North at Ormeau. McCahill's weighted pass allowed Richie Daly across the line in the first half, while Bradley's smart kick set up John Lacey in the second half. Conor Burke also made a substantial contribution from his boot with four penalties and two conversions.
Skerries, another of the teams promoted from Division Three last year, also began the season with a healthy win at Holmpatrick against Derry. Out half Jimmy Dempsey kicked 13 points of his side's total in their 23-13 win.
The long range boot of Andrew McMaster, four minutes into injury time, saved Monkstown from defeat at DLSP. His 48 yard penalty pulled his side level at Sydney Parade where the teams finished at 23-23.
At Dolphin, it was a missed conversion which resulted in their 22-22 draw with Wanderers. Denis O'Dowd's kick, in the 78th minute, failed to find the mark - after Cian Mahony had pulled the teams level when he ran in under the posts.
