Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
DUBLIN 2-22 CARLOW 1-13
By Paul Keane at Netwatch Cullen Park
Eamonn Dillon's first-half brace of goals at Netwatch Cullen Park propelled dominant Dublin to an impressive Leinster SHC win, their first of the campaign.
The 2013 provincial winners needed a win to keep on course for a precious top-three finish and duly delivered despite losing Shane Barrett to a red card.
The wing-back was dismissed just before half-time after a heavy collision with Carlow midfielder Jack Kavanagh though Dublin took the loss in their stride.
It was a commanding display from Mattie Kenny's side who drew with Wexford previously and lost to Kilkenny in their opening game.
They wrap up their group campaign with a June 15 home game against Galway at Parnell Park, a game they will feel they must win.
Speedy Dillon finished with 2-2 for Dublin while free-taker Paul Ryan top scored with 0-9 and veteran Conal Keaney picked off four points from play.
Eoghan O'Donnell was also excellent again at full-back beside Paddy Smyth who cleared tonnes of ball too in a one-sided game.
Colm Bonnar's Carlow never quite got to grips with a charged up and fully committed Dublin outfit that moved 1-4 to 0-2 ahead after 15 minutes.
Ryan, the lively Cian Boland and Ronan Hayes all pointed before Dillon took on the responsibility after winning possession from a long free in, darted away to the left and struck a low shot to the corner.
Keaney was hungry and efficient and added a point before beginning the move that led to Dillon's second goal in the 30th minute.
Keaney won possession out on the right in a group of bodies and fed Ryan who passed to the unerring Dillon.
Ryan closed out the first-half scoring to leave Dublin 2-10 to 0-08 ahead and they built on that eight-point lead despite Barrett's exit just before the break.
Keaney drilled three more points for Dublin in the third quarter as they opened up a 2-17 to 0-9 advantage before Carlow clawed back a goal.
It came in the 50th minute when James Doyle did well to gather up possession after a long ball in before beating the advancing Dublin goalkeeper Alan Nolan.
The hosts hit 1-02 in total without response but Dublin points from Dillon, Hayes and sub Fergal Whitely in the closing minutes left a dozen points between them at full-time.
Scorers for Dublin: Paul Ryan 0-9 (5fs), Eamon Dillon 2-2, Conal Keaney 0-4, Ronan Hayes 0-2, Fergal Whitely 0-2, Cian Boland 0-1, Tom Connolly 0-1, Eoghan O'Donnell 0-1
Scorers for Carlow: Martin Kavanagh 0-4 (2fs), Chris Nolan 0-4 (2fs), James Doyle 1-0, Sean Whelan 0-2, Edward Byrne 0-1, John Michael Nolan 0-1, Jack Kavanagh 0-1.
DUBLIN: Alan Nolan; Paddy Smyth, Eoghan O'Donnell, Cian Hendricken; Chris Crummey, Sean Moran, Shane Barrett; Tom Connolly, Sean Treacy; Cian Boland, Danny Sutcliffe, Eamon Dillon; Conal Keaney, Ronan Hayes, Paul Ryan.
Subs: Darragh O'Connell for Connolly (33), Jake Malone for Boland (48), James Madden for Hendricken (49), John Hetherton for Keaney (54), Fergal Whitely (0-02) for Ryan (60).
CARLOW: Brian Tracey; Alan Corcoran, Paul Doyle, Michael Doyle; Kevin McDonald, David English, Richard Coady; Jack Kavanagh, Sean Whelan; John Michael Nolan, Edward Byrne, Seamus Murphy; James Doyle, Chris Nolan, Martin Kavanagh.
Subs: Eoin Nolan for Coady (24), Ross Smithers for C Nolan (32-h/t), Ger Coady for Corcoran (35), Smithers for Murphy (44), Ted Joyce for Kavanagh (50), Denis Murphy for Byrne (59-64), Denis Murphy for J Doyle (65).
REFEREE: John Keenan (Wicklow).