If people wanted a statement performance from Dublin - they got it here.
The churlish will say they still haven’t been tested - and yet there are only four teams still standing in this year's All-Ireland race.
Maybe they should try to go toe to toe with the ferocity of hitting and tackling that Dublin to affairs from start to finish in yesterday's All-Ireland quarter-final at Croke Park.
Only Kerry have shown a similar ability defensively, to really go man to man and make hard contact without fouling in key areas, unless you absolutely have to, to prevent a goal.
And it makes all the difference.
Dessie Farrell reckoned Dublin had only passed “the first paper” and there were more tests to come with Monaghan next-up in a fortnight’s time.
“Psychologically, we’ve been saying it internally, I’ve been saying it, that we haven’t been properly tested," said Farrell, surveying his biggest victory since the 2020 All-Ireland final against Mayo.
“And that’s in no way disrespectful to anybody else that we played this year but it hadn’t been pure knock out.
“The League final (Division 2 against Derry), there was a bit of silverware at stake but both teams were promoted and it still didn’t have that real sort of competitive edge.
“That Championship edge, but from this game on, quarterfinals on, that was it. It was full bore.
“I was always going to be very curious to see how we would perform under that type of intense pressure given that we hadn’t experienced it.
“And the fact that the quality of the opposition maybe earlier in the League,. earlier in the campaign, wouldn’t be what you are facing at the business end now.
“I think psychologically it’s probably helpful but I do emphasis again that we have just won a quarter-final. We are into a semi-final.
“I think Mayo probably just weren’t at themselves today.
“The jury is still out, shall we say.”
Well, the jury returned its verdict yesterday - and it was unanimous.
That’s six clean sheets in a row since Laois hit them for two goals on a day they amassed 4-30 in the Leinster quarter-final, and it hardly mattered.
Anyone who is going to beat Dublin will probably have to hammer down that door down, but it's bolted shut.
Mayo had one proper sniff at goal when Eoghan McLaughlin side footed against post with the goal gaping on 50 minutes and his side trailing by seven - but that was about it.
Diarmuid O’Connor knew that a major was required and blazed at goal on 56 minutes, but Cluxton pulled off a stop he’d be expected to make with Brian Howard applying the pressure and Paul Mannion arriving on the scene.
Dublin won’t give anything easy to anybody.
And so normal business was resumed here as Dublin put their extra-time 2021 All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Mayo to bed.
That’s seven times they’ve knocked Mayo out of the Championship now since their 2013 All-Ireland final victory.
In the end, Farrell’s side pummeled Mayo with Colm Basquel’s 40th minute flicked goal the death knell.
You don’t come back from eight points behind against Dublin in any game, let alone one of major consequence.
Basquel’s major - after Sam Callanan had his pocket picked by Paul Mannion, waiting on a ball to go out over the endline - with Cormac Costello sweetly flick picking and passing, was the final nail in the coffin.
It was the last score in a devastating run of 1-4 straight after half-time, which saw Dublin make a break that was always going to be decisive.
Mayo failed to score for 28 minutes at one stage and were outgunned with an unanswered 1-7 either side of half-time from a rampant Dublin side.
Basquel was the star of the showing, finishing with 2-2 from play, but Costello hit five points and laid on goal.
Paul Mannion wasn’t a factor in the first half, but fired two points straight after the break.
And while Con O’Callaghan was really well marshalled by Mayo full back David McBrien, he still clipped over two points.
To think that Dublin could afford to start such a big game with the man who controls the tempo, Ciaran Kilkenny, and still win pulling up is a bit scary.
Kilkenny came on after 48 minutes to fire a point and set up another, but the game was pretty much done and dusted before that.
“Sure Ciaran is the consummate professional," said Farrell.
"That shoulder injury he got against Roscommon, he is still probably just a little bit off 100percent match fitness.
“But it’s part and parcel. It’s a squad effort so you have 26 that can travel and there’s another 12 boys left behind but they are every bit as important as the lads we brought on the bus today.
“It has to be that mentality. That’s obviously tough for certain individuals who are left at home or not getting the game time that they would like.
“In a team sport that team ethos is really, really important.”
Mayo's second half was one to forget.
McStay’s side managed just three points, although in the final quarter they had no choice but to go for goal.
That meant the game was being played wholly on Dublin terms with turnovers leading to quick counterattacks in oceans of spaces and inevitable scores.
Earlier, a rocky start with two wides and two efforts dropped short undid Dublin’s early dominance.
Still, Cluxton was getting his kick out away far easier, although Colm Reape got more comfortable as the game went on
Both keepers lost just one kick out in the first half, but Dublin pressed harder, with Cluxton continually finding Brian Howard with shorts.
Both full back lines came under pressure with Michael Fitzsimons in bother on Tommy Conroy who pointed twice from play and won frees for two more.
Eoin Murchan started strongly on Ryan O’Donoghue in a battle of the pocket rockets. but the Mayo man found his groove as the half went on and hit three points from play.
At the other end, Basquel continued his fine recent form, taking a high ball from Davy Byrne to hit the net on 18 minutes.
Padraig O’Hora had his back to the play when the ball was kicked in, with Basquel shaking off covering defender, Jack Coyne to slot home neatly for a 1-3 to 0-4 lead.
O’Hora was taken off on 32 minutes with Enda Hession going in on Basquel and forcing an over carry with his first ball.
On 28 minutes David Gough adjudged Jordan Flynn to have fouled the ball when he lifted it with his knees.
It was the correct call. Flynn lashed to the net but Dublin appeared to have stopped for the whistle.
Mayo needed a goal to breathe life into their challenge, but the energy wasn’t there.
Dessie Farrell felt that playing a third big championship game in 14 days, compared to Dublin’s two in 14 days, caught up with Mayo.
“It was always going to be an outcome where some were getting a rest and some weren’t so that probably impacted Mayo,” he said.
“We need to calibrate our own performance based on that fact as well.
“But definitely there was a lot to be pleased about but I’d urge caution in getting carried away.
“I just think that was probably a significant factor, particularly in the second half for Mayo.”
