Antrim retained their Allianz Football League Division 3 status at a sunny Corrigan Park, while condemning Wicklow to the drop.
Prior to throw-in, the Saffrons knew at least a draw would be enough for survival, but Wicklow had to win. The visitors gave it everything, but Ruairi McCann's goal on the stoke of half-time would prove to be the key moment.
Antrim were never behind and when they opened the scoring they stayed in front as they always mustered a response, yet it was far from comfortable against a Wicklow side scrapping for their lives.
Both teams looked a little nervy early on but when Ryan McQuillan, one of three late changes for the Saffrons, nailed a fifth-minute free, it settled them.
The Glenravel man curled over from play straight after and Dominic McEnhill then landed a splendid score.
The three-point margin remained as the sides swapped points, but there was a sense Wicklow were growing into it as their tactic of sitting deep, forcing the turnover and breaking began to pay off.
Kevin Quinn's second free and a great score on the break from Johnny Carlin narrowed the gap to one, but Antrim managed to respond through Eunan Walsh.
After another trade, Wicklow looked to have brought it to the minimum at the break with Dean Healy landing, but then came a big moment in stoppage time as Walsh sent a high ball in and his Aghagallon club-mate Ruairi McCann - making his first appearance in the league - rose high to finish at close range and send Antrim into the break with a 1-07 to 0-06 advantage.
Wicklow needed a response and two early points in the second period suggested they were right up for it.
Enter McBride. Playing on his home patch, the St John's man slung over two superb scores, sandwiching one from Ronan Boyle. A free from McEnhill nudged Antrim six clear.
Wicklow weren't done as they hit five of the next six points as Quinn continued to impress, while Dean Healy and Jack Kirwan chipped in.
Just two points separated the sides on 68 minutes when McCann was involved in another big moment as he took down a long ball, but was taken out by Malachy Stone who saw red. McBride converted the free.
There was still time for Wicklow and Quinn's seventh of the day left it on a knife edge, but it was McBride again who was on hand to land the insurance score as Antrim claimed the win that secured their survival and sent Wicklow down.
Antrim: Michael Byrne; Declan Lynch, Eunan Walsh (0-01), Kavan Keenan; Ronan Boyle (0-01), Jospeh Finnegan, Dermot McAleese; Cathal Hynds, Marc Jordan (0-01); Eoghan McCabe, Patrick McBride (0-04, 1f), Ruairi McCann (Creggan); Ryan McQuillan (0-04, 3f), Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon) (1-01), Dominic McEnhill (0-2, 1f).
Subs: Conor Hand for D McAleese (25), Eoin Hynds for R McCann (Creggan, 25), Niall Burns for D McEnhill (66), Daniel McNicholl for K Keenan (70+3).
Wicklow: Shane Doyle; Tom Moran, Malachy Stone, Eoin Murtagh; Matt Nolan, Patrick O'Keane (0-01), Gavin Fogarty; Dean Healy (0-02), Craig Maguire; Darragh Fee, Christopher O'Brien (0-02), Cathal Baker; Johnny Carlin (0-01), Kevin Quinn (0-07,5f), John Paul Nolan.
Subs: Jack Kirwan (0-01) for C Maguire (49), Gearoid Murphy for G Fogarty (49), Oisin McGraynor for C O'Brien (55), Joe Prendergast for J Carlin (62).
Referee: Kevin Faloon (Armagh)
