A small step towards promotion back to Division 1 and a little piece of revenge in the process. All told it was a positive start to life in Division 2 of the Allianz League for battling Dublin who made sure there was no repeat of last season's league loss to Kildare.
In their first Croke Park game since last July's agonising All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Kerry, Dessie Farrell's side held on for a repeat of last year's provincial final win.
They scored 5-17 on that occasion though found it much tougher going this time with Cormac Costello's four-point haul, and an early Brian Fenton goal, helping to secure the one-point win.
It wasn't Dublin at their free flowing best but the promotion favourites will hope to improve as they welcome back key figures like James McCarthy, Jack McCaffrey and Paul Mannion in the coming weeks.
Kildare, also relegated from Division 1 last season, outscored Dublin by 0-06 to 0-02 in the closing 20 minutes but the goal they badly needed never came as the hosts held out.
Glenn Ryan's side will chase their first league win of the campaign against Cork next weekend while Dublin will head to promoted Limerick.
Dublin handed full league debuts to goalkeeper David O'Hanlon - replacing the absent Evan Comerford - and Skerries man Greg McEneaney ahead of him in defence.
O'Hanlon started last year's Championship campaign against Wexford though didn't feature in their remaining four games.
McEneaney took his chance with two strong performances in this month's O'Byrne Cup against Wicklow and Offaly.
Dublin had eight players in their lineup who started against Kerry last July, while Niall Scully and Cian Murphy, who came on against the Kingdom, also started.
Injury plagued Con O'Callaghan was returning to Dublin duty for the first time since, ironically, hitting Kildare for 1-05 in last year's Leinster final.
McCaffrey and Mannion are back on the Dublin panel for 2023 but neither were named in the 26.
There was no sign of established stars Brian Howard or McCarthy either while Jonny Cooper has retired.
Kildare had nine starters from the side that lined out in last June's qualifier defeat to Mayo.
Boss Ryan went with Jack Robinson in attack after a couple of strong displays in their two-game O'Byrne Cup campaign.
The Clogherinkoe man lined up in a strong full-forward line next to Darragh Kirwan and Jimmy Hyland.
Kirwan and Hyland are experienced attackers for the Lilies but Robinson was their main threat initially, playing a key role in four of their six first-half points.
Robinson scored two, won a free that was converted by Hyland and was then fouled by his marker Sean MacMahon for a free that Kirwan converted.
MacMahon was one of three late additions to the Dublin team, along with Ross McGarry and McEneaney, and had a tough evening tracking Robinson.
MacMahon did play a central role in the sixth minute Dublin goal though.
It was his lay-off to Fenton that set up the talisman midfielder for the three-pointer at the Hill 16 End.
That score put Dublin ahead for the first time and they retained the lead throughout though there was never much in it.
Kildare kicked themselves for dropping four point attempts short in the first-half.
Dublin too were errant and six wides meant they only led 1-05 to 0-06 at the break when it could have been more.
O'Callaghan, locked in a head to head with Kildare corner-back Mick O'Grady, kicked three of those wides for the hosts.
Dublin fans in the 17,161 crowd cheered as referee Brendan Griffin booked Kildare manager Ryan after the restart, apparently for an incident at the end of the first-half.
O'Callaghan struck his first points of 2023 in the 36th and 41st minutes, escaping O'Grady each time.
Jimmy Hyland sniped one in return for Kildare but Dublin underlined their vast ability with a razor sharp move from the resulting kick-out that ended with Fenton playing in ex-U-20 star McGarry for a point.
Colm Basquel came on and set up a score for Ciaran Kilkenny and suddenly there was clear daylight between the teams, 1-09 to 0-07.
Kildare needed a goal to ignite a comeback and almost got one when sub Tony Archbold drew a fine save from O'Hanlon with 20 minutes to go.
They did their best in the closing quarter and struck points from Hyland, Robinson, Kirwan and free-taker Neil Flynn to push the Dubs all the way but came up just short.
Dublin: David O'Hanlon; Michael Fitzsimons, Sean MacMahon, Cian Murphy; Greg McEneaney, Eoin Murchan, Lee Gannon; Brian Fenton (1-00), Tom Lahiff; John Small (0-01), Ciaran Kilkenny (0-01), Niall Scully (0-01); Cormac Costello (0-04, 0-03f), Ross McGarry (0-01), Con O'Callaghan (0-02).
Subs: David Byrne for Murchan h/t, Colm Basquel for McGarry 47, Dean Rock (0-1, 0-01f) for McEneaney 55, Killian O'Gara for Costello 68, Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne for Lahiff 72.
Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Mick O'Grady, Shea Ryan, Ryan Houlihan; Darragh Malone, David Hyland, Paddy McDermott; Aaron Masterson, Kevin O'Callaghan; Neil Flynn (0-04, 0-2 45, 0-01f), Kevin Flynn, Paul Cribbin; Jack Robinson (0-03), Darragh Kirwan (0-03, 0-01f), Jimmy Hyland (0-03, 0-01f).
Subs: Paddy Woodgate for Jimmy Hyland 31-h/t blood, Alex Beirne for Cribbin 47, Tony Archbold for Malone 47, Ben McCormack for Jimmy Hyland 59, Kevin Feely for Masterson 60, Jack Sargent for Houlihan 72.
Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry).
