Dublin's hurlers got their season off the ground tonight with an excellent 1-17 to 0-13 defeat of Galway at Parnell Park.

Well beaten by Tipperary last weekend, the Metropolitans delivered a solid display to send the Tribesmen home with their tails tucked between their legs. Sean McGrath netted the only goal of the match nine minutes after the restart, while centre forward Niall McMorrow (0-4) and David Treacy (0-10 from placed balls) also made big contributions for the winners.

With the breeze backing them, the Dubs made a bright start and were full value for their 0-10 to 0-7 interval advantage.

The first four points were shared - David O'Callaghan and Treacy (free) on target for the hosts and Padraig Brehony and David Burke replying - before Darragh O'Connell, Treacy and McMorrow left three between them.

Joe Canning converted a brace of frees for the visitors but Treacy (free, '65) and McMorrow hit back to propel the rampant victors into a double-scores lead, 0-8 to 0-4. Treacy left five between them when he swung over another free but Canning handed his side a lifeline with three successive scores (two frees; one from play) before Treacy's sixth point of the match closed the first-half scoring.

The visitors suffered a massive blow when Canning was forced to withdraw at half time.

It looked encouraging for them when Cathal Mannion (free) registered the first score after the resumption but the Dubs replied with a McMorrow brace before McGrath - a late addition to the starting XV - netted in the 44th minute. Further scores from substitute Colm Cronin and Treacy (two frees) had the Dubs ten ahead after 50 minutes - 1-15 to 0-8!

That devastating run of 1-5 without reply between the 42nd and 50th minutes had propelled Ger Cunningham's men into a commanding position and they closed out the game comfortably to record their first victory of the campaign and draw level with their opponents on the 1A table after two rounds.

Dublin - C Dooley; E O'Donnell, C O'Callaghan, O Gough; C Crummey, L Rushe, J McCaffrey; D O'Connell (0-1), D Plunkett; S McGrath (1-0), N McMorrow (0-4), D Treacy (0-10, 9f, 1'65); E Dillon, D O'Callaghan (0-1), M Schutte. Subs: C Cronin (0-1) for S McGrath, S Treacy for D O'Callaghan, J Madden for J McCaffrey.

Galway - J Skehill; F Moore, J Hanbury, P Hoban; P Mannion, G Lally, A Harte (0-1); David Burke (0-1f), A Tuohy; P Brehony (0-1), C Mannion (0-3, 2f, 1'65), N Burke (0-1); C Whelan, J Canning (0-5, 4f), D Glennon. Subs: C Flynn for F Moore, J Cooney for J Canning, A Smith (0-1) for G Lally, D Collins for A Tuohy, P Claffey for J Hanbury.

Referee - F Horgan.

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