A typically slick Dublin outfit purred to an impressive 2-21 to 0-11 victory over Longford at Pearse Park.

This competition is being played on an initial round-robin basis this year and the Dubs will entertain Westmeath next Monday while Longford are away to Wexford. Tonight, the visitors got the job done early as they steamed into a 2-11 to 0-8 half-time lead.

Quickfire goals from Dan O'Brien and Tom Keane in the seventh and ninth minutes respectively had the Dubs in the driving seat early on, although the midlanders refused to roll over easily and were very much in touch after 20 minutes - 2-5 to 0-5.

Three Tomas McGann frees and points from Peter Lynn and Shane Farrell represented a statement of intent from the hosts, while the Dubs' early points were supplied by Sean Bugler, O'Brien (2), Tom Keane and Cormac Howley.

James Doran and the outstanding O'Brien - with two classy scores off his left - pushed the winners nine clear and, following another McGann free and an Alan McKeon '45', it was double scores with three minutes left before the break, 2-8 to 0-7.

Bugler and O'Brien added to the Dubs tally (to a solitary reply before the interval) and Howley blazed a goal chance over the bar on the stroke of the short whistle to leave nine between them.

O'Brien pointed within a minute of the restart and Howley and Bugler stretched the gap out to twelve after 35 minutes. O'Brien - bringing his tally to 1-8 - cancelled out a Rory Hawkins point and further points from Hynes and Bugler meant that the rampant Metropolitans led by 2-16 to 0-9 after 45 minutes.

That man O'Brien, James Madden and Ciaran Archer (three - a '45', a free and one from play) all tagged on Dublin points before the long whistle put Longford out of their misery.

Dublin - D O'Hanlon; N Nolan, N Doran, C Smith; K Kennedy, N Matthews, E O'Dea; D Ryan, E Fitzpatrick; S Bugler (0-3), D O'Brien (1-9), J Madden (0-1); J Doran (0-1), C Howley (0-3), T Keane (1-1). Subs: C Hynes for T Keane, J Holland for E Fitzpatrick, M Mullin for K Kennedy, C Archer (0-3, 1f, 1'45) for C Howley, K Lynch Bissett for J Madden, S Farrelly for E O'Dea.

Longford - C Gallagher; K Gilmore, G Flynn, M McCormack; C Lee, M Cahill, S Farrell (0-1); E Farrell, C McElligott; I O'Sullivan (0-1), P Lynn (0-1), N Farrelly; R Hawkins (0-1), T McGann (0-5f), A McKeon (0-1f). Subs: D Duggan for M Cahill, R Harkin (0-1) for I O'Sullivan, R McHugh for C McElligott, S Campbell for M McCormack, R Claffey for E Farrell, A McGee for R Hawkins.

Referee - N Ward.

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