No harm for Monaghan to remind Dublin that they have their number at these early junctures. No harm for the champions either to be told that in this season of all seasons there is going to be gristle. The physical soreness they feel today after this niggly clash will serve them well for what lies ahead.

Dublin 1-25 Laois 0-10

A Stephen Cluxton-less Dublin turned in a fine second-half showing to easily see off Laois to claim the county’s eighth Leinster SFC title in a row.

Dublin 2-17 Kildare 2-10: All-Ireland champions Dublin shrugged off a sluggish first half to make a winning start to their Division 1 campaign in Croke Park this evening.

DUBLIN 0-19 ... CARLOW 0-7: Dublin made a sticky start to their Leinster campaign in O’Moore Park even if their margin of victory over Carlow was convincing.

Dublin 2-29 - Roscommon 0-14: Broken records have increasingly become the theme of Dublin’s existence; from the one that Jim Gavin is increasingly sounding like to the sporting records they continue to smash with their stunning form.

A disputable additional time free ensured Donegal extended their unbeaten record in Ballybofey to 16 games.

Dublin 3-13 Dubs Stars 4-9: We didn’t, in all honesty, learn much about Dublin football at Parnell Park yesterday that we don’t already know.