Double win for Dubs in Blanchardstown
The Dublin footballers and hurlers both made winning starts to the 2013 campaign at the annual Dubs Stars games at the St. Peregrines GAA club in Blanchardstown this afternoon.
Jim Gavin got off to a satisfying start as Dublin senior football manager with his young side claiming a 0-16 to 1-11 victory.
Paul Hudson was the stand-out player, contributing six points - five from play - before a large crowd at the Blakestown Road venue.
Ballymun Kickhams duo Sean George and Jason Whelan made their senior debuts for Dublin, while former Dublin senior hurler Tomás Brady also featured in Gavin's starting line-up.
The sides were tied on four occasions in the opening half. Dublin edged ahead following points from Hudson and Michael Darragh MacAuley, but a 35th minute goal from Michael McCarthy gave the Dubs Stars a 1-4 to 0-6 interval lead.
McCarthy's goal helped keep the Dubs Stars on top for the bulk of the third quarter, but Dublin made a strong comeback led by Hudson.
The Thomas Davis clubman scored three unanswered points from play between the 57th and 62nd minutes to help move Dublin in front.
Substitutes Craig Dunleavy and Harry Dawson picked off points either side of a Ted Furman score to move Dublin 0-16 to 1-10 ahead with four minutes remaining.
The Dubs Stars had a chance to hit back late on, but defender Philip McMahon fluffed a goal-scoring opportunity - instead sending his 71st minute effort over the crossbar.
In the curtain raiser, the Dublin hurlers were impressive throughout as they registered a facile 7-13 to 0-8 win over their opponents.
Paul Ryan tallied up 3-2 in the opening half, with Conor McCormack and Danny Sutcliffe also scoring first half goals.
Dublin rung the changes at the interval introducing all of their substitutes, with Aodhan Clabby (1-0) and Niall McMorrow (1-4) adding further goals.
The Dubs Stars led by 0-2 to 0-1 after four minutes following scores from Cian McBride and John Hetherton, but once Ryan netted the first of the Metropolitans' goals in the fifth minute they never looked back.
McCormack and Sutcliffe raised green flags, while Ryan completed his hat-trick before the break, as Dublin led by 5-4 to 0-5 at the interval.
The Dubs Stars tried their utmost but were under huge pressure defensively. Despite this full-back Paul Schutte put in a solid display over the contest, impressing Dublin selector Ciaran Hetherton who praised the Cuala player in his post-match comments.
The Dubs Stars were also dealt a cruel blow early in the second half, when subsitute keeper Bill McCormack suffered an ankle injury just minutes after being introduced.
It did not get any better for the Dubs Stars with Matt Collins failing to block rasping shots from McMorrow and Clabby in the closing 10 minutes, as Dublin claimed a 26-point victory.
