Blue Stars SH challenge  Dublin 0-17 Blue Stars 1-10Humphrey Kelleher's first game in charge with Dublin saw the Walsh Cup holders register a comfortable four-point victory over the Blue Stars yesterday.

Kelleher guided Naomh Mearnóg to the Division Two title last year and played Mearnóg's Shane Ryan at full forward, his first game in two years for the hurlers.

His scores catapulted the metropolitans into an 0-5 to 0-1 lead before the Blue Stars countered with points from Emmet Carroll, Connie Ring and Conal Keaney.

Dual star Keaney had the chance to put his team ahead when the Blue Stars were awarded a close-in free. The Ballyboden St Enda's man hit in a low shot but Dublin goalkeeper Willy Burke pulled off a fine save to turn Keaney's effort away for a 65.

That left Dublin leading by 0-6 to 0-5 at the break. The Blue Stars' challenge fell away badly after the interval with Dave Curtin, Ronan Fallon and Ryan amongst the scorers for a dominant Dublin.

There was some consolation for the Blue Stars with full forward Dave Kirwan finding the back of the net in the last minute.

"It was nice to have a hurley in the hand again," said a delighted Ryan afterwards. "I don't like turning my back on any sport and it worked out brilliant today."

DUBLIN: W Burke; C Meehan, M Bannon, D O'Reilly; D Byrne, S Perkins, K Ryan; D Sweeney, R Fallon (0-1); M Carton, D Curtin (0-5), A Glennon (0-2); F Chambers (0-3), S Ryan (0-4), S Mullen. Subs: D Flanagan (0-1) for Mullen, B Kilreavy (0-1) for Flanagan, J McGuirk for Sweeney, R Redmond for Byrne, R Donnelly for O'Reilly S Hyland for Elliot.

BLUE STARS: G Ryan; P Brennan, D Spain, T Phelan; D O'Reilly, D Wyse, K Elliott; S Martin, B McLoughlin; S Callinane (0-1), C Ring (0-3, one free), C Keaney (0-2); F Armstrong (0-1), D Kirwan (1-1), E Carroll (0-1) Sub: K Flynn (0-1) for Carroll (30 mins).

Referee: A McSuibhne (St Jude's)