Dublin send out Louth warning

Dublin 1-19 Louth 0-9

Free-scoring Dublin got the defence of their Leinster SFC title off with a bang as poor Louth bowed out with a whimper at Croke Park.

Dublin answered the critics in some style with a first-half wonder-show to seal the deal by half-time at 1-8 to 0-4.

Alan Brogan got the early goal before being substituted through injury while Shane Ryan, sub Mossie Quinn and Ciaran Whelan (0-3 for day) were all outstanding early on.

Louth's chief scorer JP Rooney picked up their first point from play after 38 minutes and Ollie McDonnell hit two points soon after.

But Dublin snuffed out the insurgence with subs David O'Callaghan and Tom Mulligan both helping to close out the game with points.

Dublin: S Cluxton; B Cahill, P Christie, P Griffin; D Henry (0-1), J Magee, C Moran; C Whelan (0-3), D Magee (0-1); B Cullen (0-3; 2f), S Ryan, S Connell (0-1); A Brogan (1-0), R Cosgrove (0-3; 1f), J McNally.

Subs.: T Quinn (0-3) for Brogan (inj) 19, T Mulligan (0-1; 45) for Ryan (inj) 43, L Og O hEineachain for Connell 52, D O'Callaghan (0-2) for McNally 53, C Goggins (0-1) for Moran 64.

Yellow cards: Connell 21.

Louth: S Reynolds; A Page, A Hoey, D Brennan; S Gerard, P McGinnity, J Neary; K Reilly, S O'Hanlon; N McDonnell, M Farrelly (0-2), B Clarke; O McDonnell (0-2), M Stanfield (0-1; 1f), JP Rooney (0-4; 3f).

Subs.: D Reilly for Neary h/t, P Keenan for McDonnell 50, C Quinn for Stanfield 54, C Grimes for Clarke 65, J Clerkin for Reilly 68.

Red cards: O'Hanlon (48).

Yellow cards: Reilly 15, Brennan

Man of the match: Shane Ryan (Dublin).

Referee: P McEnaney (Monaghan).