Hurling challenge: The defection of Conal Keaney to football may not have been the ideal start to the year for Dublin manager Humphrey Kelleher.

And despite the return of Tomás McGrane after a two-year absence, it's clear that the loss of Dublin's brightest hurling star will make things that much harder for them.

The game was a one-sided affair with the Blue Stars well in control, courtesy of a fine display from UCD's Bryan Barry.

Barry, from Kilkenny, registered seven points yesterday, which included one fine sideline cut.

Dublin, for their part, performed well in the full back line, but paid the price for a disastrous first half after which they trailed 0-13 to 0-2.

The introduction of Alan McCrabbe and Keith Elliot briefly turned things around, but they were never able to claw back the deficit.

BLUE STARS: G Maguire; G O'Meara, T Russell, J Russell; M Fitzgerald, R Fallon, S Daly; B Barry (0-7, one line ball, one 65), J McGuirk; F Armstrong (0-2, 1f), R Brennan (0-1), D Brennan (0-3); E Carroll (0-2), B Murphy (0-2), B Motherway. Sub: D O'Reilly for Morris.

DUBLIN: W Bourke; P Brennan, M Breathnach, S O'Shea; C Billings, T Sommers, M Carton; G Bennett (0-1), C Meehan; S McCann, S Mullen, E Moran (0-1); T McGrane (0-1), S Hiney (1-0), F Chambers. Subs: S McDonnell for Mullen, A McCrabbe (1-0) for Chambers, K Elliott (0-2) for McMcCann, P Bergin for Billings, S Loughlin for McGrane.

Referee: T Lambe (Kilmacud Crokes).