It has been a far from ideal start to life under Pat Gilroy.
The All-Ireland winning manager with Dublin's footballers took charge of the hurling contingent amid hopes that he could revitalise the flagging leg of Dublin GAA.
After a great six years under Anthony Daly, Ger Cunningham's spell in charge upset the rhythm that had seen Dublin claim a Leinster title and an All-Ireland semi-final spot.
Hosting Offaly in Croke Park in the opening round of the National League, Dublin were humbled under the lights.
Next up, it took a 76th minute free from Donal Burke to secure Dublin a one-point win over Antrim in Corrigan Park.
Taking on a confident Limerick side in the Gaelic Grounds tonight, Gilroy's men never got going whatsoever; Limerick securing a 1-26 to 0-17 victory.
With twenty minutes gone, Limerick had settled quicker than the visitors; racking up 9 points to Dublin's 5. A foul by Dublin's Alan Nolan on Barry Murphy brought about a penalty that Dublin would never truly recover from.
Taken by one of Limerick's U-21 All-Ireland winners, Aaron Gillane made no mistake.
23: Goal @LimerickCLG!@aarongillane fires home a penalty to put Limerick seven points up. #MatchNightLive #AllianzLeagues pic.twitter.com/KtZqTd2ik4
— eir Sport (@eirSport) February 17, 2018
Proceeding to hassle the Dublin defenders while picking off points almost at will, Limerick took their seven point advantage and ran with it.
By half time, Limerick led Dublin 1-13 to 0-07.
WATCH:
Limerick 1-13 | 0-07 Dublin. The best of the action from the Gaelic Grounds as Limerick lead by nine at the break. #AllianzLeagues #MatchNightLive pic.twitter.com/nz9wZLmX7E— eir Sport (@eirSport) February 17, 2018
The second-half offered no real reprieve for Dublin.
As much as Pat Gilroy will look back and wonder what Dublin could have done to improve on their second hammering in three games, John Kiely and Limerick will be quietly confident.
Quicker to every ball and very proficient in taking their scores amid some testing conditions, Limerick look like a side that could upset even sides of a greater standing than Dublin.
Diarmuid Byrnes finishing off this great team effort for Limerick.
Diarmuid Byrnes with the finisher after great team work by Limerick! pic.twitter.com/WRum5DMeCj
— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 17, 2018
With everything set to come down to the final day of the National League, the projected meeting between Galway and Limerick will likely have the decisive say in who gains promotion from Division 1B.
For Dublin, Galway are next on the menu. Desperate to lay down some kind of marker that progress is being made beyond the amount of promising players they have managed to retrieve back into the panel, a visit from the All-Ireland and National League winners may not be the best situation in which to execute this.
Some good news for Gilroy will be the improved performances of some individuals involved; Danny Sutcliffe looking like a player who is quickly returning to full flow.
