Despite being relegated to Division 4 of the National League, Wicklow sprung a big surprise in the first round of the Leinster senior football championship in Portlaoise, Oisín McConville's troops digging deep to deservedly edge out newly-crowned Division 3 champions Westmeath.
Wicklow had the aid of a strong wind in the first half and they dominated for almost the entire half. Kevin Quinn slotted over a first-minute free, and they doubled their lead some six minutes later when Christopher O’Brien curled over a delightful score. Quinn converted his second free in the 11th minute.
In the 21st minute, Jonathan Carlin was gifted a glorious goal chance for Wicklow, but he was denied by a fabulous save by Jason Daly at the expense of a '45’ which John Paul Nolan converted.
Dessie Dolan’s charges eventually opened their account in the 22nd minute when their most influential player in the opening half, Ronan Wallace teed up Luke Loughlin for a neat score.
Four minutes later, a Dean Healy delivery eluded everybody for a goal for the Garden County. On the half-hour mark, Daly again came to his side’s rescue with a great block on Patrick O’Keane. O’Brien scored his second point of the contest in the last minute of added-time, to leave Wicklow ahead by 1-05 to 0-01 at the interval.
A heavy half-time shower seemed to reduce the strength of the wind, but Westmeath still ate into their opponents’ lead with unanswered points from the boots of Robbie Forde (a free), Ronan O’Toole, and Forde (from play after an O’Toole rasper had come back off the crossbar).
Nolan and sub John Heslin traded points, before the outstanding Dean Healy pointed after an indirect free following a clash of heads.
The pre-match underdogs pounced for a vital second goal in the 53rd minute when the Westmeath defence failed to clear a high delivery by Healy, and Nolan was on hand to fist the ball to the net from close range. This put Wicklow ahead by 2-07 to 0-05.
Fresh from his two goals against Down eight days ago, Jonathan Lynam scored an opportunist goal to keep his side in contention, but Wicklow were just able to keep the scoreboard ticking over in a tension-filled final quarter.
Loughlin’s low shot whizzed over the crossbar, and Wicklow led by four points (2-09 to 1-08) when corner back Tom Moran was black-carded for a foul on the lively Loughlin, who duly converted the ensuing free.
Try as they might, Westmeath were unable to take the lead in the five minutes of added-time, and all they had to show for late pressure was a converted free each from Heslin and Loughlin. Wicklow’s reward is a quarter-final meeting with Kildare at the same venue next Sunday.
Wicklow: Shane Doyle; Tom Moran, Cillian McDonald, Eoin Murtagh; Matt Nolan, Patrick O'Keane, Gavin Fogarty; Dean Healy (1-02), Craig Maguire; Darragh Fee, Christopher O'Brien (0-03), Jack Kirwan; Jonathan Carlin, Kevin Quinn (0-02, 0-02 frees), John Paul Nolan (1-02, 0-01‘45’).
Subs: Jacques McCall for Murtagh (h-t), Gearóid Murphy for O’Keane (inj., 46), Joe Prendergast for Fogarty (66), Oisín McGraynor for McDonald (69), Brian Nesbitt for Maguire (70+3).
Westmeath: Jason Daly; Daniel Scahill, Charlie Drumm, Jack Smith; Conor McCormack, David Lynch, Sam McCartan (0-01); Ronan Wallace, Andy McCormack; Jonathan Lynam (1-00), Ronan O'Toole (0-01), Conor Dillon; Luke Loughlin (0-05, 0-03 frees), Robbie Forde (0-02, 0-01 free), Stephen Smith.
Subs: Nigel Harte for McCormack (h-t), John Heslin (0-02, 0-01 free) for S Smith (44), Matthew Whittaker for Dillon (55), James Dolan for J Smith (55), Senan Baker for Forde (67).
Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon).
