As It Stands: Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship

While current holders of the Dublin SFC1 and Leinster titles, Ballyboden St Enda's, made a winning start to their defence they were slow out of the traps - they'll be hoping it's a good omen for the Firhouse Road side!

In the opening game last year it took a late point by Ryan Basquel for them to edge out Clontarf by a point.This year the Dublin 3 club were their first opponents again and it was Clontarf who made the early running.

However, after trailing by two clear goals (2-5 to 0-5), both scored by Kevin Lillis, inside the opening quarter Boden wrested control of their Dublin SFC1 Group 3 encounter at Páirc Uí Mhurchú to eventually emerge comprehensive victors (4-20 to 2-8).

Here are the results from the opening round of games this evening in the Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship#DSFC1 pic.twitter.com/pwdNr91I6l

— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) July 25, 2020

During the tricky opening spell the experience of the evergreen Conal Keaney was crucial for the defending champions.

His manager, former Kildare star Anthony Rainbow, was effusive in his praise of the 38-year-old afterwards.

"He’s in incredible shape. Only for him we were in big trouble in the first 15 minutes. He was incredible, absolutely incredible.”

Other players to catch the eye for Boden included Colm Basquel, who scored 1-10 (0-5f), Ross McGarry (0-4) with Dublin minor of 2014, Warren Egan, taking both his goals very impressively.

While the Covid-19 enforced deferral of the Championship means it will now be run off in quick succession the Boden boss thinks his players may have benefited from the break following a long, hard season in 2019.

"We finished up on the fourth of January. We were back training probably three weeks later for the league which started mid-February and we were looking at championship then in April," said Rainbow.

"And then the whole Covid-19 thing happened. I think probably the break has done us the world of good.

"We probably needed more than three weeks off because, if you look at it, we’ve been going solid for the last two years really without a break.

"So those couple of months have benefitted the team and they’ve come back a bit fresher.”Boden face St Vincent's in their next outing in the group and the winners will put themselves very much in the driving seat.

If Keaney is one of the more experienced footballers (and hurlers) in the county he has to take his place on the grid behind a player he'll face next time out - Tomás Quinn.

Quinn, an 11-time Dublin Blue/Dubs Star recipient, was celebrating a 21st of a kind when he inspired Vincent's to their 2-15 to 1-13 victory over Whitehall Colmcille at Collins Avenue in their opener.

Quinn made his SFC debut as a sub during his club's 2000 campaign so this year's renewal is his 21st year in-a-row to play in the capital's blue riband club football competition.

At the other end of the tape in terms of SFC championship experience for Vinnies were midfielder Liam McGovern and wing-back Mark L'Estrange who were both making their starting debuts while defender Conor O'Brien came on as a substitute to make his SFC bow.

Kilmacud Crokes, who will be expected to be among the front-runners, put six goals past Raheny (6-13 to 0-10) in their Group 4 contest at Silver Park.

Dublin senior Paul Mannion scored 2-6 overall, his first goal coming in the opening minutes while Dublin U20 Conor Kinsella got a second before the break as the Stillorgan men held a 2-8 to 0-4 advantage at the half-time.

The conveyor belts continue to work diligently in Stillorgan with many more new faces emerging in recent seasons such as Michael Mullin, younger brother of former Dublin U21 panellist Dara, Dara Jones and Mark and Niall O'Leary to complement their older charges as they try find that winning blend of youth and experience.

The display of Cian O'Sullivan at centre-back was one big positive for the Stillorgan men as seven-time All-Ireland SFC winner has been curtailed in recent seasons once the inter-county scene had concluded.

Crokes will face St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh in Round 2 at Martin Savage Park with the home side eager to rebound from the opening round defeat to Castleknock.

In Group 1 Ballymun Kickhams and Thomas Davis were both winners in Round 1 so they enter the next round, as they face each other in Round 3, knowing victory will see them into the knockout stages.

For Kickhams Dublin senior duo Dean Rock and Paddy Small were in top form - combining for a total of 2-13 with their side utilising the 'advanced mark' to telling effect at times.

The 'Mun face Round Towers Lusk (who lost to Thomas Davis) away while the Kiltipper Road men travel to Skerries, who lost to Ballymun in their opener.

With eight games ahead this coming Wednesday night we'll have a much clearer picture with regards to who will make up the last eight of this year's Dublin SFC1.

2020 DUBLIN SFC1 GROUP PHASE: ROUND 2

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5 (7.30)

Group 1 Round 2

Lusk: Round Towers Lusk v Ballymun Kickhams

Skerries: Skerries Harps v Thomas Davis

Results so far

SFC1 Group 1: Thomas Davis 2-14 Round Towers Lusk 0-11; Ballymun Kickhams 3-18 Skerries Harps 0-12.

Group 2 Round 2

St Mobhi Road: Na Fianna v Lucan Sarsfields

Marlay Park: Ballinteer St John's v St Jude's