Hayes on the double as Dublin too strong for Kildare
Ronan Hayes netted twice as Dublin refused to roll out the red carpet for a Kildare side returning to Division 1 hurling - the hosts winning 2-19 to 0-10.
The Lilywhites hadn't played above Division 2 in a whopping 46 years but Brian Dowling's crew, who will also return to the Leinster SHC this summer after a 22-year gap, found this a difficult return.
Hayes struck both of his goals in the opening quarter, opening up a nine-point lead at that stage, and Niall O Ceallacháin's side never looked like being reeled in after that.
Dónal Burke top scored for Dublin with 11 points, all but one of those coming from placed balls.
It's Dublin's first win of the campaign having been edged out by promotion rivals Clare in an Ennis cracker last weekend.
They will have three weeks off until their next game against Wexford at Croke Park - their only game in February - another huge fixture in the battle for promotion to Division 1A.
Kildare had a bye week in Round 1 so were always going to be jumping in at the deep end here and never looked like getting anything from the game. They managed just two points from open play in the entire contest and their ambitions were undermined by 14 wides.
Kildare's Caolán Smith has a shot blocked by Chris Crummey and Donal Burke
Kildare went with their strongest possible side for the trip to north Dublin, starting a dozen of the team that faced Dublin last summer. James Burke and David Qualter are still high-profile injury absentees.
Dublin were much changed from that 3-25 to 0-13 win last June, going with just six of the same starters.
Yet it was pretty much like picking up where they left off in Newbridge seven months ago as Dublin soared 1-04 to no score ahead.
Ronan Hayes manufactured his first goal in the fifth minute, doing well to win possession when Andy Dunphy's point attempt dropped short and then netting from close range.
Dónal Burke added three points before Brian Hayes got in on the act to leave the hosts with that seven-point lead.
Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing, one of three late additions to the Dublin team, picked Ronan Hayes out with an arrowed pass for Dublin's second goal in the 15th minute.
Kildare were in real trouble and only managed one point from play in the entire first half.
That came from Jack Sheridan in the 25th minute, the rest of their scores also coming from free-taker Sheridan.
Dowling winced at Kildare's nine wides in the half while Muiris Curtin should have netted in the 13th minute but John Bellew somehow got back to clear off the line.
Dublin were wasteful too, blasting nine first-half wides too with Brian Hayes accounting for four of those.
Paddy Smyth breaks out for Dublin
It was a shame because the same player worked some terrific openings with clever pieces of skill though Dublin were still sitting pretty with a 2-08 to 0-05 half-time lead.
Both sides ran in their full allocation of subs after the break but it didn't get a whole pile better for Kildare.
Gerry Keegan scored their only point from open play in the second half.
Dublin weren't exactly at their swashbuckling best either but the 2025 All-Ireland semi-finalists were always in control.
Burke, with two scores, and Dara Purcell reeled off three Dublin points to stretch the gap in the third quarter.
And there was no way back for Kildare when Dublin hit four more in a row between the 63rd and 69th minutes.
Burke grabbed three of those points from frees and Darragh Power hit the other score on a heavy pitch at Parnell Park.
Dublin: Eddie Gibbons; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, Eoghan O'Donnell; Andrew Dunphy, Chris Crummey, Conor Burke; Conor Groarke, Conor Donohoe; Brian Hayes (0-01), Dara Purcell (0-02), Darragh Power (0-01); Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing (0-01), Ronan Hayes (2-00), Dónal Burke (0-11, 0-07fs, 0-03 65s).
Subs: Conal O Riain (0-02) for Donohoe (43), Cathal Kennedy (0-01) for Groarke (48), Seán Gallagher for O'Donnell (62), Tom Brennan for Ó Dúlaing (64), James Madden for Purcell (68).
Kildare: Paddy McKenna; Dan O'Meara, Rian Boran, Simon Leacy; Paul Dolan, Cian Boran, Liam O'Reilly; Alan Goss, Cathal McCabe (0-01, 0-01f); Daire Guerin, Gerry Keegan (0-01), Cathal Dowling; Jack Sheridan (0-09, 0-08fs, 0-01 65), Muiris Curtin, James Dolan.
Subs: Jack Travers for James Dolan (ht), Conan Boran for Goss (51), Caolan Smith for Cathal Dowling (59), Cathal Derivan for O'Meara (63), Tim Ryan for Curtin (68).
Referee: James Owens (Wexford).
