Division One Group Two: Dublin 4-21 Offaly 2-6 You couldn't quite claim that Dublin have suddenly metamorphosed from winter caterpillars into summer butterflies but there was very little in their league form to date this year which suggested they could become airborne, let alone flutter like this.
A run of defeats, some abject, some morally nourishing, had depressed the faithful around the capital city to an extent that blue flags were almost entirely absent in Portlaoise yesterday.
Offaly will point to the straitened circumstances they found themselves in with more than half a dozen players from a shallow pool winding up in the repair shop. And yet anybody who saw Dublin's rather feeble home draw with Antrim a week earlier would have been reluctant to bet on them racking up 4-21 against 15 training cones.
Whatever the explanation , yesterday's massacre at Portlaoise means that Offaly, who began the league with wins over Tipp and Antrim and later beat Wexford, now have no points from two games in the relegation phase while Dublin, who lost five on the trot, have three points.
The damage was done early, and principally by Dublin's best player, Conal Keaney. With the sides amiably swapping points till they got to four each, Dublin suddenly cut loose and scored 2-3 in the space of five minutes including a Liam Ryan goal and yet another net-bursting free from Conal Keaney.
Keaney's form has been hindered by his tampering with football over the winter months but the last few weeks have been hurling-oriented and yesterday he looked once again like one of the best players in the country.
A string of last-minute alterations to the Dublin line-up and positions saw Keaney begin the day at midfield and both he and Carl Meehan turned in fine performances supplying the Dublin forwards with a glut of possession.
What was surprising was the ability of those forwards to convert. Dublin haven't been an especially free-scoring side in recent times and have a tendency to take too much out of the ball at any given opportunity. Yesterday they snapped points briskly and the goals took care of themselves, just as the old maxim promises.
There were fine scores from Ronan Fallon, Michael Carton, Stuart Mullan and Johnny McGurk, all taken from areas where Dublin players usually decide to begin solo runs from.
Offaly were blunt and were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the Dublin defence. There was plenty to chew on for those who like to nibble the bones of the dual-player debate. Offaly's Neville Coughlan was on show in the football match which served as the main event at Portlaoise and, looking at his beef and strength, you could see how badly the hurlers missed him.
Simon Whelahan had a below-par day in the corner and only Damien Murray threatened damage in the full-forward line. Murray's goal was turned in from a scramble in the square and perhaps what was most notable about it was the response it provoked. Keaney had a huge point. Meehan another. Then Fallon. Then a goal by David Donnelly, who staked a claim to more regular participation with a fine performance and a haul of 2-2.
Dublin's run of scores just went on. Four more points and then another goal - Donnelly once more. The game was at the death when Conor Gath got in behind the Dublin defence for Offaly's second goal. Little wonder that he raised his arm in ironic celebration. Seconds later Fallon drove over another fine score to remind Offaly of Dublin's superiority on the day. The faithful could only bow.
These two sides fancy that they'll be meeting this summer in a Leinster semi-final. The winners getting at least a backdoor pass after that. By then, yesterday won't mean a whole lot but the glimpse which Dublin got of their own potential might carry them through a few moments of doubt.
DUBLIN: G Maguire; D Spain, S Perkins, S Daly; S Hiney, K Ryan, A de Paor (0-1); C Keaney (1-6, one goal and four pointed frees), C Meehan (0-1); L Ryan (1-2), R Fallon (0-4, two frees), D Curtin (0-2, all frees); T Moore, M Carton (0-1), D Donnelly (2-2). Subs: A Glennon for Curtin (15 mins), S Mullan (0-1) for Glennon (54 mins), J McGuirk (0-1) for Keaney (56 mins), C O'Brien for de Paor (70 mins).
OFFALY: B Mullins; M O'Hara, B Buckley, D Franks; N Claffey, P Whelan, K Brady; N Mannion, M Cordial (0-1); B Carroll (0-1), G Hanniffy, D Hayden (0-1); S Whelahan (0-1), J Brady, D Murray (1-2). Subs: A MacRedmond for P Whelan (half-time), C Gath (1-0) for N Mannion (half-time), S O'Connor for B Mullins (43 mins).
Referee: D Richardson (Limerick).
