NEW season, new rules — same old Dublin and Mayo who once again duked it out to the bitter end at Croke Park.
But Dessie Farrell revealed there were other things that would be different.
Seán Bugler ultimately applied the knockout blow this time with a man-of-the-match display for Dublin, blasting seven important points.
There was an important cameo too from Kevin Lahiff, who struck 1-2 on his full league debut for the Sky Blues.
Four other players made their first league starts for Dublin and boss Farrell will need them all to keep delivering.
Because the Dubs chief confirmed afterwards that he is going to be WITHOUT gifted duo Jack McCaffrey and Paul Mannion for 2025.
Farrell dropped the bombshell news when talking through Dublin’s absentee list, though said he expects Stephen Cluxton, 43, to return following an injury.
The Small brothers, John and Paddy, should be back, too, though there is no news yet regarding All-Ireland winning Cuala defender Michael Fitzsimons.
Brian Fenton, unexpectedly, and James McCarthy, less so, have already made their exit and breaking the latest news on McCaffrey and Mannion — both of whom have stepped away before — Farrell said: “With Jack and Paul, those lads aren’t ones to release retirement statements.
“But I’d say it’s unlikely that the two lads will be involved with us this year.
“Of course the door is always open if there’s any change of hearts or minds.
“But the way discussions have gone it’s probably unlikely we’ll see them. I’m being open and transparent about that.”
Farrell has introduced 16 new players in all this year and will have been pleased with their willingness to engage the old enemy.
Goalkeeper Gavin Sheridan, former AFL player James Madden, Lahiff, ex-hurler Eoghan O’Donnell and Brian O’Leary all made full league debuts.
Eoin Murchan, Brian Howard, Ciarán Kilkenny and Bugler were the only players retained from the line-up that started against Galway in last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final defeat.
Farrell said: “Very happy with the performance overall. It was a different sort of night for us in terms of all the new lads in the mix.
“Fellas who hadn’t previously established themselves in the team were getting opportunities so we’re delighted to see how they went.”
MAYO NEWBIES
Mayo were in experimental mode too, handing full league debuts to Davitt Neary and Fenton Kelly.
And Kevin McStay was able to bring on rookies Cian McHale and Seán Morahan for valuable game-time.
Cillian O’Connor and Pádraig O’Hora have stepped away this year and Aidan O’Shea was not available so McStay was looking for new performers.
He will continue the search when Mayo play Galway next Sunday while Dublin will be in Donegal on Saturday evening.
As for football’s new rules, McStay reckoned they were not overly impactful in the game.
Fergal Boland did kick a two-pointer for Mayo but it was the only one all night.
The new one-v-one throw-up was interesting, mainly because all eyes were on Dublin to see who would replace Fenton at midfield.
Killian McGinnnis wore No 13 for the boys in blue but contested the throw-ups and played in midfield, next to Madden.
Both goalkeepers got forward and charged beyond the halfway line plenty of times too, giving their teams a 12-v-11 advantage.
Mayo stopper Colm Reape hit their first point after one of his bursts forward, though Dublin had already scored 1-1 at that stage, Lahiff having netted inside two minutes.
The Leinster champions rode that early wave of momentum to lead by 1-6 to 0-2 after 15 minutes and some in the 24,160 crowd were wondering if it would be a rout.
But that is when things really got interesting because Mayo reeled off 1-7 without response, the goal coming from Conor Reid in the 24th minute.
Mayo seemed energised within that rally by the two-point score from Boland who added a one-pointer later on.
They also benefited from a handy tap-over free from Ryan O’Donoghue which came after the ball was brought forward 50 metres by referee Paul Faloon.
Dublin went 15 minutes without scoring in all and hit the interval trailing by two points as Mayo turned that early seven-point deficit into a 1-10 to 1-8 lead.
The excitement levels dipped in the third quarter, though Dublin were happy enough to reel Mayo in and briefly move ahead thanks to back-to-back Kilkenny points.
FINAL FLURRY
Typically enough where Dublin and Mayo are concerned, it ended up in a tense back-and-and forth for the last 20 minutes or so with the sides tied four times in the second half.
Dublin ultimately pulled away with Bugler continuing to fire over, while substitute Luke Breathnach kicked two significant scores after coming on.
Mayo chief McStay said: “Serious credit to our lads in the way that they turned things around in the second quarter. When we played, we played quite well but we couldn’t maintain it.
“We just weren’t consistent enough over the 70 minutes or so.
“That’s going to be a big work-on for us over the next week.”
DUBLIN: G Sheridan; D Byrne, T Clancy, E Murchan; C Murphy, B Howard, G McEnaney 0-2; K McGinnis 0-1, J Madden; C Kilkenny 0-2, K Lahiff 1-2, S Bugler 0-7; C Basquel 0-1, E O’Donnell, B O’Leary.
Subs: S MacMahon for Murchan 45 mins; T Lahiff for Madden 51; L Breathnach 0-2 for O’Leary 51; N Scully for K Lahiff 59; S Lowry for O’Donnell 66.
MAYO: C Reape 0-1; S Callinan, R Brickenden, E Hession; S Coen, D McBrien, D McHugh; F Kelly, M Ruane; C Reid 1-0, P Towey 0-2, D Neary 0-2; F Boland 0-4, 1tp, F Irwin 0-2, R O’Donoghue 0-3, 2f.
Subs: D McHale 0-1 for Towey 51 mins; C McHale for Irwin 59; B Tuohy for McHugh; S Morahan for Kelly 62; D O’Connor for Neary 64.
REFEREE: P Faloon (Down).
