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Mayo's Matthew Ruane with Cian Murphy and Sean Bugler of Dublin. Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

0-7 for brilliant Bugler as Dublin edge Mayo in Croke Park league opener

Dessie Farrell’s side won by two points.

Dublin 1-17

Mayo 1-15

A WHOLE NEW world for Gaelic football, same Dublin-Mayo rivalry, and mixed January outcomes.

Dublin edged this Division 1 opener at Croke Park, Seán Bugler their scorer-in-chief with seven points from play.

For Dessie Farrell and Kevin McStay — and the 24,160 fans in attendance — there was some good, some bad, but lots of promise as the new rules took hold.

The result capped a Dublin football double: their female counterparts narrowly won the same duel in Parnell Park this afternoon. The hurlers overcame Antrim beforehand at HQ.

After the retirements of James McCarthy and Brian Fenton, all eyes were on the Dublin midfield. Brian Howard and Kevin Lahiff were named to start there, the latter a late change for his brother Tom. Goalkeeper Gavin Sheridan and AFL returnee James Madden were also drafted in for debuts before throw-in; dual star Eoghan O’Donnell was another eleventh-hour switch; and Mayo made two of their own as Paul Towey and Fenton Kelly got the nod.

Dublin started brightly and were seven points up after 15 minutes, 1-6 to 0-2. Debutant Lahiff palmed home their goal with less than two minutes on the clock after good work from O’Donnell, while Bugler was the Dubs’ main scoring source as they moved the ball quickly.

But by the 23rd minute, Mayo were level. Shortly after the excellent Fergal Boland scored the game’s only two-pointer, Conor Reid smashed home a goal to make it 1-6 apiece. Both goalkeepers were joining attacks, but Mayo’s Colm Reape did so to greater effect: he was key in the build-up to their goal, having also opened their scoring with a point from play.

Mayo moved 1-9 to 0-6 ahead thereafter — one score coming from a free brought forward 50m — but Bugler helped stop the rot to leave it 1-10 to 1-8 at the break. The game was noticeably quicker and more open, as cobwebs were blown off. Some of the score-taking was excellent, though poor shooting was also a feature.

That trend continued on the restart, as the lead swung both ways early doors. Bugler and Lahiff’s scoring prominence continued as Ciarán Kilkenny got in on the act, while Mayo debutant Davitt Neary was among their standout shooters alongside Ryan O’Donoghue. Notably, the latter’s two frees were the only scored all night.

By the 52nd minute, the sides were level again at 1-13 apiece, but Dublin ultimately dominated a scrappy home stretch and outscored Mayo 0-4 to 0-2 from there.

The irresistible Bugler and Luke Breathnach hit important scores late on to seal the win, despite Mayo’s best efforts to add another crucial two-pointer before the hooter.

Scorers for Dublin: Sean Bugler 0-7, Kevin Lahiff 1-2, Greg McEnaney, Ciarán Kilkenny, Luke Breathnach 0-2 each, Killian McGinnis and Colm Basquel 0-1 each.

Scorers for Mayo: Fergal Boland 0-4 (1 2pt score), Ryan O’Donoghue 0-3 (2 frees), Conor Reid 1-0, Davitt Neary, Frank Irwin and Paul Towey 0-2 each, Colm Reape and Darren McHale 0-1 each.

Dublin

1. Gavin Sheridan (St Brigid’s)

2. David Byrne (Naomh Ólaf), 3. Theo Clancy (Kilmacud Crokes), 4. Eoin Murchan (Na Fianna)

5. Cian Murphy (Thomas Davis), 20. James Madden (Ballyboden St Enda’s_, 7. Greg McEneaney (Skerries Harps)

26. Kevin Lahiff (St Jude’s), 9. Brian Howard (Raheny)

10. Ciarán Kilkenny (Castleknock), 11. Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St. Enda’s), 12. Seán Bugler (St. Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh)

13. Killian McGinnis (Skerries Harps), 24. Eoghan O’Donnell (Whitehall Colmcille), 15. Brian O’Leary (Na Fianna)

Subs

  • 6. Sean McMahon (Raheny) for Eoin Murchan (45)
  • 8. Tom Lahiff (St Jude’s) for James Madden (50)
  • 23. Luke Breathnach (Ballinteer St John’s) for Brian O’Leary (50)
  • 14. Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street) for Kevin Lahiff (58)
  • 22. Sean Lowry (St Vincent’s) for Eoghan O’Donnell (66)

Mayo 

1. Colm Reape (Knockmore)

2. Sam Callinan (Ballina Stephenites), 3. Rory Brickenden (Westport), 4. Enda Hession (Garrymore)

5. Stephen Coen (Hollymount Carramore), 6. David McBrien (Ballaghaderreen), 7. Donnacha McHugh (Castlebar Mitchels)

21. Fenton Kelly (Davitts), 9. Matthew Ruane (Breaffy)

10. Conor Reid (Moy Davitts), 24. Paul Towey (Charlestown Sarafields), 12. Davitt Neary (Breaffy)

13. Fergal Boland (Aghamore), 14. Frank Irwin (Ballina Stephenites), 15. Ryan O’Donoghue (Beal an Mhuirthead)

Subs

  • 18. Darren McHale (Knockmore) for Paul Towey (50)
  • 17. Cian McHale (Moy Davitts) for Frank Irwin (58)
  • 11. Bob Tuohy (Castlebar Mitchels) for Donnacha McHugh (62)
  • 25. Sean Morahan (Castlebar Mitchels) for Fenton Kelly (62)
  • 8. Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber) for Davitt Neary (64)

Referee: Paul Faloon (Down). 

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