A flawless opening salvo from St Vincent's helped them to a 1-20 to 1-07 win over St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh in their Dublin Senior A Hurling Championship opener last night.
The capital's opening weekend of championship competition got off to an early start on Wednesday evening, but it was Plunkett's who were caught on the hop at a windy Parnell Park.
Last year's semi-finalists completely dominated in the opening 30, notching up 5 points in the opening four minutes and leading by ten unanswered halfway through the period en route to a wind-assisted 0-14 0-01 lead at the break.
Cian McBride and David Phelan were both sent off just before the half-time whistle leaving both sides with 14 heading into the second, but the flip in the wind did little to assist Plunkett's chances once Alan Moore notched the game's opening goal five minutes after the restart.
Sean Clerkin got a goal back but Vincent's rode the 0-7 contribution from the impressive Conor Burke and 0-8 from the clinical John Hetherton, six from dead balls, to the win.
The Group 3 action continues tonight at Parnell PArk with Craobh Chiarain taking on Naomh Fionnbarra, with throw in at 7:15pm.
Dublin SHC 'A' round 1 fixtures:
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 v Naomh Fionnbarra, Parnell Park, 7.15pm
Saturday 6 April
Group 1
Kilmacud Crokes v Na Fianna, Parnell Park, 4pm
Faughs v O'Tooles, Monastery Road, Clondalkin, 4pm
Group 2
St Judes v Ballinteer St Johns, O'Toole Park, 3.30pm
Cuala v St Brigids, O'Toole Park, 5.15pm
Group 4
Setanta v Whitehall Colmcille, Broomfield, 4pm
Ballyboden St Endas v Lucan Sarsfields, Parnell Park, 5.45pm
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