Former Mayo forward does the damage as Vincent’s run riot despite Connolly absence

Routine.

St. Vincent's began their defence of the Dublin Senior Football Championship in explosive fashion in Parnell Park on Thursday evening. Opponents Skerries Harps were the victims as the three-in-a-row seeking Vinnies' hit the ground running and never once took their foot off the gas in a relentless Donnycarney destruction. It looked like Diarmuid Connolly was set to return from the cold when he was named on the programme to line out at centre forward for Brian Mullins' side, but as it turned out, the 30-year-old didn't start the game nor was he sitting on the Marino side's bench. Undeterred by the absence of their talisman, the blue and whites hit their opponents for an fifth minute goal through the evergreen Mossy Quinn and that set them on their way. The former Dublin star was only getting going and he rattled the Harps' net once again on the quarter of an hour mark as the favourites showed their class. Former Mayo star Enda Varley was also in lively form for Vincent's. The corner forward, who transferred to the Dublin club in 2016 tacked on four points from play but was also instrumental in a number of other scores for his side. Varley, who scored two points in Mayo’s 2012 All-Ireland final defeat to Donegal has been a mainstay in Vincent's progress over the last few years, and his consistent form might just turn the head of Mayo manager Stephen Rochford. Two quickfire goals from Dublin panelist Shane Carthy and half forward Cormac Diamond on the stroke of half time meant this game was all over bar the shouting. Skerries did manage a fight back of sorts in the second half, with former All-Ireland winning captain Bryan Cullen to the fore, but overall Vincent's were far too good. They ended up winning by 19 points on a scoreline of 5-19 to 1-9 with Varley and Diamond again instrumental.