Peter Canavan believes Dublin looked back to their best as they coasted past Mayo to secure their place in this year's All-Ireland SFC semi-finals.
Dessie Farrell's side matched Mayo in the opening half of their Croke Park encounter before dominating the second to ease to a 12-point victory.
The Dubs will have to get past Monaghan in the semi-finals to secure a place in this year's decider, with defending champions Kerry taking on Derry in the other tie.
Watch highlights of Dublin's All-Ireland SFC quarter-final win over Mayo
Dublin dominated the game from 2015 to 2020 where Jim Gavin's side won a remarkable five in a row, before Dessie Farrell added a sixth straight title. However, there has been a change of fortunes over the past two years.
Former Tyrone star Canavan believes Dublin are starting to look like the team of old going into the business end of the championship.
"The first half was a very entertaining and open game of football," said Canavan, speaking on The Sunday Game.
"At half-time in the debate among the boys, Tomás [Ó Sé] said, 'we're not sure about this Dublin team, because you can't really compare them to the great Dublin team'.
"But in the second half they had all the hallmarks of the great Dublin team that won six in a row. They were ruthless. And in their first seven attacks they had six shots and six scores.
'The hunger is back' - @colmcooper13 was impressed with the way Dublin went about their business in dispatching Mayo #rtegaa #sundaygaa pic.twitter.com/QmeXCwoABE
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 2, 2023
"There was a physicality and an aggression around the middle of the pitch, and it's been a while since we have seen Brian Fenton as aggressive and as motivated as he was in that second half.
"The way they disposed of Mayo, the game was virtually over after ten or 15 minutes of the second half so that was a massive statement."
Speaking after the game, Mayo manager Kevin McStay offered no excuses and said that Dublin found their championship form, and Canavan was not too harsh on Mayo, stating that they were a good team that just got beaten by a side at the top of their game.
"Credit to Mayo, they made a great contribution to the first half, and that wasn't a bad Mayo team that went out there today, as they were well in it at half-time, but Dublin are certainly moving in the right direction."
