FLASHBACK: Dublin v Wicklow- 2018 Leinster Football Championship

Dublin's Senior Footballers begin the quest to become top dogs in Leinster once more, as they face Wicklow in Sunday's Leinster Quarter-Final in Aughrim.

The Boys in Blue have a good record against Wicklow, best demonstrated in their 4-25 to 1-11 win over this weekend's opponents back on May 27th, 2018.

In that one, Dublin blew Wicklow away with a blistering first-half barrage to cruise to a one-sided Leinster quarter-final win at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise.

With 31 league places between them, the gulf was obvious early. Jim Gavin’s side raced into a 2-8 to 0-2 lead inside 20 minutes, effectively ending the game as a contest just as it had begun.

Early goals from Brian Fenton and Dean Rock set the tone before Ciarán Kilkenny and Con O’Callaghan added two more before the break, leaving Dublin 18 points clear at half-time.

Kilkenny ran the show with 1-07, while Fenton dominated midfield with 1-03 as Dublin controlled every inch of grass.

Gavin emptied the bench by the 52nd minute, handing chances to Eoin Murchan and Conor McHugh.

Wicklow were high on confidence after their shock win over Offaly, but they were no match for Dublin, and they had shipped 2-07 before they even opened their account.

A late reshuffle saw Paddy Andrews drafted in for John Small, triggering a positional switch: Brian Howard dropped back, Con O’Callaghan pushed out, and Andrews slotted inside.

Fenton struck first after eight minutes, and Rock doubled the damage on 15, palming home from close range.

Goals three and four from Kilkenny and O’Callaghan came in a devastating burst just before the break.

James Stafford finally got Wicklow going and later shifted to full-forward, where he grabbed a 26th-minute goal, rising above Stephen Cluxton to punch home in trademark fashion.

He nearly had another before half-time, but Cluxton denied him.

Dublin hit back immediately with those late double strikes, storming into the break 4-13 to 1-4 ahead.

There were no more goals, despite Fenton seeing his effort brilliantly saved by Mark Jackson in the Wicklow net.

But points flowed at will, with 11 different scorers on the board, including subs McHugh and Colm Basquel as Dublin navigated their first provincial outing of the summer.

The Dubs would go on to be crowned Leinster and All-Ireland champions later that summer.

Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; Eric Lowndes, Philly McMahon (0-01), Michael Fitzsimons; James McCarthy, Jonny Cooper, Brian Howard (0-01); Michael Darragh Macauley (0-01), Brian Fenton (1-03); Niall Scully, Ciaran Kilkenny (1-07), Con O'Callaghan (1-03); Dean Rock (1-02, 0-02f), Paul Mannion (0-01, 0-01 45), Paddy Andrews (0-03)

Subs: Eoin Murchan for Fitzsimons h/t, Conor McHugh (0-02, 0-01f) for Rock h/t, Paul Flynn for Macauley 41, Darren Daly for Mannion 41, Colm Basquel (0-01) for Andrews 48, Kevin McManamon for O'Callaghan 52

Wicklow: Mark Jackson (0-02, 0-02f); Eoin Murtagh, Ross O'Brien, Ciaran Hyland; John Crowe, Dean Healy (0-01), Saoirse Kearon; Rory Finn (0-01), James Stafford (1-01); Darren Hayden (0-02), Kevin Murphy, Theo Smyth (0-02); Seanie Furlong (0-01, 0-01f), John McGrath, Mark Kenny (0-01)

Subs: Cathal Magee for Murphy h/t, Daragh Fitzgerald for McGrath h/t, Conor Healy for Kearon 50, Paul Merrigan for Crowe 53, Brendan Kennedy for Stafford 58, Daniel Keane for Smyth 68

Referee: Ciaran Branagan (Down).