Having secured their county championships last weekend, Cuala of Dublin and Dicksboro of Kilkenny met in Parnell Park this afternoon.
With a place in the semi-final of the Leinster championship at stake, it was widely expected that today's winner would take pole position in the race for provincial glory.
One man sure to have been paying very close attention to Cuala particularly is Dublin's new hurling manager, Pat Gilroy.
Unfortunately for Gilroy however, one player who really left his mark on the encounter is likely to remain unavailable to him.
Keeping the Kilkenny champions at arm's length for the hour, Cuala's Con O'Callaghan was outstanding throughout.
Awarded an All-Star, as well as being named Young Footballer of the Year for his performances with Dublin's footballers on Friday night, Gilroy will not want to consider too deeply the talented player he is forced to overlook.
Largely unplayable, O'Callaghan's ability to exploit the space Dicksboro afforded to him was relentless.
Unfortunate not to score himself here, O'Callaghan's (wearing #14) dogged running set Jake Malone up for an early goal that would set a mark Dicksboro never looked like reaching.
Cúl ag @CualaCLG . Í faighte ag Jake Malone. 1-04 ag Cuala 0-02 ag @DicksboroGAA anois. #GAABEO #LSHC2017 #Dublingaa pic.twitter.com/G2eGPc2wCp
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) November 5, 2017
It was not as if Dicksboro hadn't been warned; this earlier point from O'Callaghan demonstrating the sort of mood the Cuala man was in.
Scór iontach ag C.O'Callaghan do @CualaCLG 3-0@DicksboroGAA #GAABEO #LSHC2017 #Dublingaa pic.twitter.com/yLZPkgeHTw
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) November 5, 2017
By no means a one-man show however, when O'Callaghan finally did get a goal of his own, it was as a result of some tremendous build up play from the All-Ireland club champions.
Cúl eile ag @CualaCLG !! Faighte ag Con O'Callaghan. 2-14 acu anois 0-12 ag @DicksboroGAA #LSHC2017 #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/g1nWj7jbdF
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) November 5, 2017
Contributing 2-08 in terms of scores taken and created, the task of retaining their All-Ireland title is now well and truly on, and, predictably, O'Callaghan will be a determining factor in this.
Needless to say, his performance today has garnered quite a response.
Cuala handy winners in the end, 2-20 to 1-16. Con O'Callaghan scored 1-3, gave last pass or got fouled for the free on another 1-5. Handy.
— Malachy Clerkin (@MalachyClerkin) November 5, 2017
Con O'Callaghan might as well retire now. What a year.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) November 5, 2017
Although Gilroy may well tempt some of Dublin's marginal hurlers back into the fray, the 21 year old Cuala man is likely to remain under the stewardship of Jim Gavin for the time being.
