Wicklow staged a late rally to see off Leitrim in a pulsating Division 4 battle in Echelon Park.
Six sweet points on the trot saw Oisin McConville's men power to a fully-deserved victory that lifts them to seven points, just one behind league leaders Laois as this division looks set to go right down to the wire in the coming weeks.
Key to the Wicklow win was their taking control of the midfield through the class of Dean Healy and Podge O'Toole while Healy and the impressive Eoin D’Arcy were keeping the white flags waving as Andy Moran’s men were held scoreless from the 56th minute.
The Garden County can also give thanks to a superb showing from defender Malachy Stone who put in a massive shift on Leitrim dangerman Keith Beirne, who may well have had a much healthier return than his 1-04 but for the class of the Barndarrig man.
It was nip and tuck throughout the opening half with Leitrim looking slightly the sharper and Wicklow spurning two goal chances, one from the boot of Mark Kenny that was saved smartly by Darren Maxwell in the Leitrim goal.
Wicklow lost Paddy O’Keane to a black card after 23 minutes but Leitrim could only register two points during his absence as the sides retired with the visitors ahead by 0-06 to 0-05 at the break but knowing they would have the wind in the second half.
The message was obvious from early on as long balls were pumped down on top of Beirne. Paul Keaney opened the scoring with a bomb from out the field before Beirne caught a long pass in behind Stone, rounded Mark Jackson and finished to the back of the Wicklow net to the delight of the Leitrim supporters, many of whom were decked out in luminous green woolly caps for the day.
Wicklow steadied superbly after the concession of the major, D’Arcy sweeping over two frees, but Leitrim should have caused significant damage after 44 when Beirne failed to reach a ball from the stylish Jack Heslin with the goal at his mercy.
Healy began to exert his considerable influence on affairs and left just a point between the sides before a Leitrim spurt pushed them three ahead by the 56th minute.
But from here on in, Wicklow dominated, and points by O’Toole, D’Arcy (three) and Healy (two) secured a wonderful victory in front of a vocal home support.
Wicklow have Wexford and Waterford still to play and if they can take maximum points from both games, they should be in the thick of things when the magical prize of promotion is handed out.
The Leitrim vs Laois encounter on 19 March could have a big bearing on the winning of the Division 4 league title.
Elsewhere, Carlow claimed their second win of the league as they defeated London by 0-13 to 0-09 at Ruislip.
Darragh Foley scored 0-07 for the visitors, who led by three points at the interval.
Wicklow: Mark Jackson (0-03, 3f); Malachy Stone, Eoin Murtagh, Jacques McCall; Karl Furlong, Paddy O’Keane, Zach Cullen; Dean Healy (0-03), Podge O’Toole (0-01); Jack Kirwan, JP Hurley, Cathal Baker; Mark Kenny (0-02, 1f), Kevin Quinn, Eoin D’Arcy (0-06, 5f).
Subs: Cian O’Sullivan for J McCall (60), Arran Murphy for M Kenny (71), Sean Murphy for J Kirwan (63).
Leitrim: Darren Maxwell; Paddy Maguire, Mark Diffley, Conor Reynolds; Conor Farrell, Sean Quinn, James Rooney; Marcus Plunkett (0-01m), Donal Wrynn; Darren Rooney (0-01), Jack Heslin (0-02), Paul Keaney (0-01); Aidan Flynn, Keith Beirne (1-04, 3f), Donal Casey.
Subs: Pearce Dolan for D Rooney (51), ÉimhIn Sweeney for S Quinn (57), Tom Quinn for Marcus Plunkett (57), Domhnaill Flynn for C Farrell (65), Emlyn Mulligan for J Rooney (68).
Referee: Sean Laverty (Antrim).
