Down at Donnycarney church, a girl wearing a Dublin jersey danced across the street at the traffic lights.
Well before throw-in, a group of young Dublin followers came up the laneway at Parnell Park, chanting “Dublin, Dublin.”
Suddenly, the afternoon turned grey, and the rain began to fall.
“What do you expect? We are in Ireland,” quipped a spectator just inside the gate.
The crowd taking their place in the stand made sure to sit at the back. It was standing room only in the press box.
The TG4 convoy had also rolled into town. Their huge trucks were parked behind the church-end goal.
A camera operator was up in the cherry-picker behind the pavilion-end goal. A head for heights is probably the first question at the interview for such a job.
Sorcha Furlong was pitch-side for the station. She has graced this ground on many a day for St Brigid’s and the Dubs.
During a commercial break at half-time, she took the time to have a few words with her Russell Park colleague, Mary O’Connor, the secretary of the Dublin Ladies Board.
The game began at 2.50. TV time.
It was the opening match of the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship.
When the final hooter sounded, Dublin, the All-Ireland champions, had won, 1-10 to 0-5.
On paper, that looked comfortable enough. The grass told a different story.
It was a competitive duel, brimming with bright, attacking football.
Two fit teams, full of running and superbly conditioned.
In the second half, Cuala’s Jennifer Dunne took off on a run from the scoreboard end that almost saw her in Dalkey.
In the first period, Kate Sullivan and Caoimhe O’Connor made interceptions and set off like Ciara Mageean on the final bend in Rome.
Both defences were reading their hymn sheets. Car parking spaces in and around the goals were hard to find.
The two goalkeepers couldn’t have been surrounded by better security personnel – Abby Shiels in the home net and Laura Brennan of the visitors.
However, before the break, Laura had to show her agility as she managed to grab a dangerous-looking ball to foil a Dublin attack.
Mayo impressed. Their new manager is Liam McHale. His basketball hands left their fingerprints all over this display.
They moved the ball well. And quickly. There was always somebody on the shoulder.
Come the close of business, Mayo could have a few more shillings in the post office. But one thing is sure – they will be a test for any side in the coming weeks.
Dublin’s Lauren Magee agrees: “It was a tough game. Dublin and Mayo always produce close tussles,” she said.
“It was a good fixture to get for our first outing. Mayo put it up to us.
“We had to work really hard. It wasn’t easy breaking them down.
“Both sides always leave everything out there, and that was the case again today.
“There was no shortage of physicality out there. Great tackling and blocking. The conditions weren’t great, but you always have to be ready for everything.
“It was good to get the win, but we know we have a lot of improving to do for the weeks ahead.”
Lauren kicked a fine point in each half. The first of them came straight from the training ground. A short free, and off she raced to pop over.
Dublin had to graft for their five points to two interval lead after they had attacked the scoreboard end with the breeze.
Ten minutes into the second half came the telling goal. It was a quick-fire move, the Dubs handling the greasy ball with comfort.
They worked it through the gloves, and it concluded with the skipper, Carla Rowe palming it to the basket.
Olwen Carey kicked one of the most elegant points of the hour. With the outside of her right boot. She added another before the curtain call.
Dublin finished on the up, enhancing their industry with a tidy pocket of scores. Among them was a left-footed strike from Sinéad Goldrick.
Mayo’s corner-forward, Lisa Cafferky, hit three excellent points. Erin Murray also contributed a point. She worked overtime in the Mayo engine room.
Mayo meet Kildare this Saturday (June 15), and on Sunday, June 23, Dublin will travel to play the All-Ireland Intermediate champions in the three-team Group 4.
Just after the final whistle, it began to pour. Heavily.
Some people sheltered in the stadium tunnels.
“Where did all this rain come from?” asked a woman.
Tom Jones could have responded: “It’s not unusual.”
Hopefully, the weather cheered up for the man from the valleys.
But on the evidence of this show, these two teams will be well able to keep up with the Joneses.
