The opening round of action in the Dublin Senior A Hurling Championship got underway on Wednesday evening as St Vincent's pick up first win of Dublin Senior A Hurling Championship after dominant opening half display in 1-20 1-07 victory against St Oliver Plunkett's/ER got the premier smallball competition underway in Group 3.
But it was their local Northside rivals who sent the bigger message the following night, as Craobh Chiarain capitalised on a Naomh Fionnbarra capitulation to smash them 7-22 to 1-06.
Finbarrs were without star Dublin Eamonn Dillon, as well as a few other regular starters, but Craobh were absolutely on fire as two goals from young star Billy Ryan and a Robbie Mahon hat-trick capped off a conquering display.
The new championship format means the winners of the opening games play each other in Round 2, so Vinnies will take on their hurling-only cousins on Good Friday at Parnell Park in a tasty-looking encounter.
Craobh have the promise of youth and boundless energy on their side, a grand old hurling club making their way back in definitive trademark style, but their game will need to be at it's most accurate to account for the equally-exciting Marino men.
There was drama aplenty, meanwhile, in the glut of Saturday fixtures as twelve sides got their campaigns underway, but perhaps nowhere more so than Ballyboden St Enda's comeback victory against Lucan Sarsfields in Group 4.
The holders needed a late Finn McGarry point to see off Sarsfields, and came back from three down in the dying embers despite playing for more than three quarters of the game with 14 men.
Dean Curran saw red and Lucan led 1-11 to 1-07 but Conal Keaney proved keyn off the bench as he and Paul Ryan fought to get Boden back in front.
The ageless pair came back once again proving their evergreen class as Ryan eventually finished with 0-6, including a late intervention before the McGarry winner.
St Brigid's ill-discipline cost them big time in their group 3 clash with Cuala, with the Castleknock side finishing with 12 men as they fell 3-26 1-13.
Cuala were without Cian O'Callaghan and the Schutte brothers but 2-9 from David Treacy and top performances from Cillian Sheanon, Diarmuid O'Flionn, Colm Cronin, and Con O'Callaghan saw the former kingpins run all over Brigid's.
Kilmacud Crokes, meanwhile, needed a late goal from Ronan Hayes to snatch a 1-16 all draw with perennial nearlymen Na Fianna.
Feargal Breathnach, the Curries, Donal Burke (who hit 0-5 from play), and AJ Murphy all starred for the Glasnevin side as they led by four in the dying embers.
But Hayes snatched a late share of the points with a converted free from range and the stealing goal for Crokes, who were without in-form Oisin O'Rorke.
Faughs, St Judes, and Whitehall Colmcilles all recorded more comfortable wins over the weekend.
Dublin SHC 'A' round 1 results:
Wednesday 3 April
Group 3
St Vincent's 1-20 St Oliver Plunkett's/ER 1-07, Parnell Park
Thursday 4 April
Group 3
Craobh Chiarain 7-22 Naomh Fionnbarra 1-06, Parnell Park
Saturday 6 April
Group 1
Kilmacud Crokes 1-16 Na Fianna 1-16, Parnell Park
Faughs 3-18 O'Tooles 2-15, Monastery Road, Clondalkin
Group 2
St Judes 3-22 Ballinteer St Johns 0-15, O'Toole Park
Cuala 3-26 St Brigid 1-13, O'Toole Park
Group 4
Setanta 0-09 Whitehall Colmcille 2-22 Broomfield
Ballyboden St Endas 1-15 Lucan Sarsfields 1-14 Parnell Park
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