Ballymun Kickhams showed true grit to get their Dublin SFC title defence off to a winning start with a 1-12 to 1-10 victory against Thomas Davis this evening.

Trailing by five points with 40 minutes gone on the clock, Brendan Hackett's side outscored the 2019 beaten finalists by 0-8 to 0-1 over the remainder of the contest. Five pointed frees from substitute Dean Rock handing the holders the initiative.

At the end of an eventful first-half, Davis led by 1-6 to 1-3 after Davy Keogh's seventh minute goal gave them a brilliant start. The Tallaght side were dealt a blow when influential midfielder Eoin Lambert was forced off injured.

Dillon Keating missed an early penalty as Anton Swan's goal before the first water-break brought Ballymun back into contention after their opponents had built up a 1-5 to 0-3 lead. Then, with the help of Rock's dead-eye accuracy, the champions were able to make a second-half turnaround.

In the first part of a Parnell Park double-header, Stephen Murray saved a Cormac Costello penalty as league champions Na Fianna defeated Whitehall Colmcille 1-18 to 0-12.

At Lawless Park, Skerries Harps scored a 0-11 to 0-7 win over Clontarf, while goals paved the way for Round Towers Lusk as they beat St Oliver Plunkett's Eoghan Ruadh 3-16 to 0-19.

The remaining first round matches will take place on Sunday when the 'Neller' hosts another attractive double-header with the meetings of Ballyboden St Enda's v Raheny and Kilmacud Crokes v Castleknock.

Meanwhile, O'Toole Park also sees two clashes as St Vincent's face Ballinteer St John's and St Jude's meet Lucan Sarsfields.

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