If this New Year's Day challenge is anything to go by, then Dublin hurling has some troubled times ahead.
Still without a senior intercounty manager - and no sign of anyone coming in soon - Dublin were convincingly beaten by the Blue Star selection in a standard of game that rarely rose above the mediocre.
Ground conditions at the Kilmacud Crokes' Pairca de Burca weren't quite ideal for quality hurling, but that doesn't excuse the dismal quality of shooting.
Michael O'Grady returned to the sideline for this occasion, but he must be glad that he left the job behind him during the summer.
The Blue Star selection had six of the UCD (and non-Dublin) players that made such an impact on the Leinster club championship. Under the eye of UCD's Dave Billings, they were never truly troubled.
Dublin's problem at the start was simply getting into scoring range. UCD's Paddy O'Brien and Jim Byrne had pushed the Blue Stars in front and, almost without exception, it was Dave Henry who kept Dublin in touch.
His second point after 12 minutes briefly edged Dublin's noses in front, but after 18 minutes Dave Donnelly shot his first of two goals from close range and from then on the Blue Stars never looked back.
Pat Fitzgerald and Rory Moore - also of the UCD contingent - helped extend the margin before the break so that Dublin trailed 17 to 0-6 at halfway.
Any chance of a fightback was killed off in the opening minutes of the second half after Moore's pass to Donnelly was shot into the net.
The Blue Stars then hit at least five wides in succession. Not that it mattered. Dublin's ability to stage a rally was non-existent and the second half was 15 minutes old before they produced their next score. To their credit, it was a well-taken goal from Ciaran Brady.
O'Grady introduced whatever substitutes he could, but none of them had the required effect. Eoghan Dunne, Henry and Martin Kenny added one more each, but the Blue Stars closed out the game with the final scores.
With news that Pad Joe Whelahan is no longer interested in taking over as manager, Dublin hurling supporters couldn't have imagined a worse start to the year.
Blue Stars: L Peel; C O'Dwyer, P Pringle, S Donnelly; H Flannery, D Hegarty, S Ryan (0-1); R Moore (0-4), T Feehan (0-1); P Fitzgerald (0-2), J Byrne (0-2), N Butler; D Donnelly (2-1), S Martin, P O'Brien (1-1, a free). Subs: D Russell for Ryan (38 mins), G Mullins for Byrne (46 mins), Ryan for Russell (55 mins).
Dublin: B McLoughlin; C McCann, D Spain, D Feehan; A de Paor, L Og O hEineachain, L Ryan; D Sweeney (0-1), M Fitzimmons; J Lawlor, C Brady (1-0), D Henry (0-6); G Ennis, D Daly, P Meehan. Subs: C Meehan for P Meehan (17 mins), D de Paor for Lawlor (21 mins), D Maher for O hEineachain (40 mins), M Kenny (0-1) for Ennis (41 mins), E Dunne (0-1) for Feehan (48 mins), E Curley for McLoughlin (50 mins). Referee: D Ryan (Kilmacud).
