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Cuala began the defence of their Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Football Championshiptitle when overcoming Raheny by 4-16 to 0-14 at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.
Con O’Callaghan led the way for the holders with a personal tally of 3-6 with his goal in the 12th minute and another from Niall O’Callaghan six minutes later building a 2-6 to 0-7 lead by half-time.
Brian Howard kicked a brace of two-pointers for Raheny in the first-half and goalkeeper Rob Hennelly also raised two red flags but the goal required to launch a comeback never looked likely to materialise.
At the opposite end of the field, Con O’Callaghan put the contest to bed in the 57th minute as he crashed home from close range following a surging run by Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne and he completed his hat-trick two minutes later when rising highest to flick home a booming delivery from deep by Niall O’Callaghan.
The first part of the double-header saw Ballinteer St John’s pull away in the second-half on their way to a comfortable 1-23 to 1-11 win against St Vincent’s.
Mark McNally and Johnny Quirke led the way for a Ballinteer team that enjoyed a 0-11 to 1-7 advantage at the break with St Vincent’s boosted by a goal from captain Gavin Burke.
The free-taking of Jack Lundy allowed St John’s to stretch their lead after the break and the icing on the cake was provided in the dying seconds as substitute Liam Fenton found the net after his pace had taken him away from the Vinnies rearguard.
On Friday night, Ballyboden St Enda’s excelled from the outset on their way to a comprehensive 4-23 to 3-9 victory against a lacklustre Na Fianna at Parnell Park.
St Enda’s, who clinched the Division 1 league title earlier in the year, served early notice of their intent through a 5th minute goal by Darren O’Reilly with Daire Sweeney putting further distance between the teams with their second goal four minutes later.
Colm Basquel heaped further misery on Na Fianna as he added three sublime two-pointers in the first-half and while Brian O’Leary replied with a brace of goals for the Glasnevin side, a James Holland goal pushed Ballyboden into a healthy 3-15 to 2-3 interval lead.
A 43rd minute goal from Ryan O’Dwyer ended any optimistic hopes of a Na Fianna comeback despite O’Leary completing his predatory hat-trick in injury time.
Earlier in the evening, Templeogue Synge Street clawed back a six-point deficit in the final quarter to earn a deserved 2-15 apiece draw with Ballymun Kickhams.
First-half goals by Paddy Small and Dillon Keating appeared sufficient for Kickhams but with Niall Scully excelling on his way to eight points, Synger completed their comeback courtesy of 2-2 by Luke O’Brien.
In Balgriffin, Castleknock did enough to edge Whitehall Colmcille with two Eoin Sawyer goals proving pivotal in their 3-14 to 1-15 victory.
Kevin Stephenson added the third goal for a ‘Knock team best served over the hour by Ciaran Kilkenny, Rob O’Shea, Luke Swan and Conor Chawke.
Across in O’Toole Park, Paul Mannion and Dara Mullin impressed up front as KilmacudCrokes defeated Clontarf by 0-21 to 0-14.
They will now play St Jude’s in Round 2 after the Templeogue side pipped St Sylvester’s by 0-24 to 1-18 in Balgriffin.
Earlier in the day, Lucan Sarsfields finished strongly to get the better of Thomas Davis by 1-18 to 2-12.
A Chris Sallier goal handed Thomas Davis a marginal lead by the turnaround but Lucan seized the initiative after the break through Jordan Delmar’s goal with the evergreen Brendan Gallagher kicking two vital points in the closing stages.
Go-Ahead Ireland SFC1 Group 1: Ballyboden St Enda’s 4-23 Na Fianna 3-9; St Vincent’s 1-11 Ballinteer St John’s 1-23.
Go-Ahead Ireland SFC1 Group 2: Whitehall Colmcille 1-15 Castleknock 3-14; Ballymun Kickhams 2-15Templeogue Synge Street 2-15.
Go-Ahead Ireland SFC1 Group 3: Thomas Davis 2-12 Lucan Sarsfields 1-18; Cuala 4-16 Raheny 0-14.
Go-Ahead Ireland SFC1 Group 4: Kilmacud Crokes 0-21 Clontarf 0-14; St Jude’s 0-24 St Sylvester’s 1-18.