The Dublin rejuvenation continues to gain momentum and if this performance at Parnell Park is anything to go by, there's no sign of it slowing down for quite a while yet.
The 16-point winning margin underlines the strength and depth of this current Dublin panel and even though manager Tom Carr is still in the process of picking and choosing before deciding his regular 15, they look increasingly like a side that can play together and win together with seasoned familiarity.
Leitrim, it has to be said, put up fairly weak opposition and their future is currently in direct contrast. Just six of the championship side that crashed to Galway last summer lined out here, yet Peter McGinnity appears to have limited alternatives to choose from. With former All Star Seamus Quinn sent off early in the second half and just two of their points coming from play, it's obviously another day they will want to forget.
Dublin still relied on the likes of Brian Stynes, Paul Curran and Dessie Farrell for their more inspiring moments, but Niall O'Donoghue was certainly an interesting addition at corner forward while Declan Darcy was having a particularly good afternoon in his first competitive encounter against his former team. Liam Walsh made less of an impression in his league return to corner back after an almost five-year absence and Senan Connell was also having a quiet day at right corner forward.
A slight dampness hampered an otherwise perfect playing surface, and the atmosphere was boosted by an eager attendance of 6,000. Ciaran Whelan had them wide-eyed in the first minute when his long-range shot blasted back off the post, followed soon after by Farrell's opening score. Leitrim kept it a close passing game, Fintan McBreen combining well with Jason Ward for their first, but by the end of the opening quarter it was clear Dublin were going to be difficult to control.
Stynes increased his presence with two gracefully-taken points just before the 20-minute mark that were followed moments later by a third. At this point referee Noel Cooney had five names in the book as Leitrim's impatience and Dublin's determination began to collide.
Adrian Charles converted a much-needed Leitrim free just before the break but they still trailed 0-8 to 0-3 at half-time and faced even dimmer prospects going into the second period. Charles tried to motivate the team with one of their better points early after the restart but then the Dublin midfielders and half-forwards made possession all their own with Curran and Stynes stepping up another gear, as did O'Donoghue with his first point.
The Leitrim morale was given another blow when Quinn was sent off for some aggressive jersey pulling on Shane Ryan seven minutes into the half and then in the 46th minute Farrell made the most of the game's only real goal chance. Whelan had played in a high ball to Darcy and his short pass to Farrell needed only two quick turns by the full forward before a powerful right-foot shot put it into the net.
Leitrim at this stage were shaken as well as stirred and their scoring ended over five minutes from time with a third McBreen free. Dublin, meanwhile, pulled further in front courtesy of Gavin, Stynes and finally Darcy to put championship fears into Leinster opposition already.
Dublin: D Byrne; L Walsh, S Ryan, T Lynch; P Croft, P Curran (0-1), K Galvin; E Sheehy, C Whelan (0-3); B Stynes (0-6), D Darcy (0-2, one free), J Gavin (0-3, two frees); S Connell, D Farrell (1-2), N O'Donoghue (0-1). Subs: J McGee for Walsh (35 mins); R Cosgrove for Connell (49 mins); E Crennan (0-1) for Sheehy (51 mins).
Leitrim: G Phelan; J Phelan, D Kelleher, S Dillon; C Reagan, F Davitt, G Foley; J Ward (0-1), S Quinn; A Charles (0-1, free), B Guckian, A Fee (0-1); F McBrien (0-3, three frees), A Cullen, D Brennan. Subs: R Greenan for Dillon (1 min); C Murray for Greenan (27 min); G Bohan for Fee (51 min).
Referee: N Cooney (Offaly).
