Aaron Byrne and Colm Basquel produced impressive displays at St Vincent’s GAA Club on Saturday afternoon, when Jim Gavin’s Dublin secured the spoils in the latest Dublin Bus/Herald Dubs Stars football encounter.

Fine scores by former county star Tomas Quinn and Niall Coakley had helped the Dubs Stars to develop an early advantage, but following excellent approach play by Killian O’Gara (brother of Dublin senior Eoghan) in the 20th-minute, Byrne brilliantly claimed the opening goal of the contest.

Byrne also found the back of the Stars net five minutes later, and thanks to subsequent points from Basquel (two) and the lively Adam Rogers, the All-Ireland champions developed a 2-8 to 0-8 interval cushion.

This annual fixture was brought forward because of the early start to the new GAA inter-county season, and though they were playing without their first-choice selection, Dublin pushed on after the restart. O’Gara, Byrne, Basquel and Ryan Deegan were all on target during a strong purple patch, before the Stars fired back with a 47th-minute goal by Ballymun Kickhams attacker Jason Whelan.

Dublin settled once again with well-worked scores by Glen O’Reilly and Colin Doyle, and while a Pat Burke three-pointer kick-started a late onslaught from the Stars, Dublin held out for a deserved triumph.

Scorers 

Dublin: A Byrne 2-1, C Basquel 0-5 (1f), A Rogers 0-4, C Doyle 0-2, S Carthy (f), G O’Reilly (f), G Seaver, E O Conghaile, K O’Gara, R Deegan 0-1 each.

Dubs Stars: P Burke 1-2 (0-1f), J Whelan 1-1, T Quinn 0-4 (3f), N Coakley 0-3 (1f), O Kelly, M Tighe 0-2 each, F Duffy 0-1.

DUBLIN: A Bunyan; R McGowan, S McMahon, G Hannigan; D Devereux, B Howard, G Seaver; S Ryan, S Carthy; C Basquel, E O Conghaile, K Callaghan; A Byrne, K O’Gara, A Rogers.

Subs: D Downey, R Deegan, C Doyle, E O’Brien, C Sallier, G O’Reilly.

DUBS STARS: M Savage; C Wilson, J Curley, M Fitzsimons; C Keeley, G Brennan, O Kelly; A Elliott, R Downey; M Sweeney, J Whelan, K Doherty; P Burke, N Coakley, T Quinn.

Subs: JB Carthy, D Kennedy, M Tighe, F Duffy, E O’Connell, D McGuinness.

Referee: D O’Connor (Fingal Ravens).