Last-gasp points from Matt Moynihan and Shay Rafter helped London to their first league win of 2025 as they deservedly beat Wicklow in west London.
Michael Maher needed a big response after their heavy defeat to Wexford in the opening round of Division Four and his London side delivered exactly that.
Wicklow were the side that came out of the traps the quickest as they dominated the opening five minutes when they found themselves five up without a reply from the hosts. A two-pointer from Dean Healy opened the Wicklow account and was quickly followed with a Conor Fee free before John Paul Nolan pointed twice.
After soaking up the pressure from Wicklow's fast attacking play, London would soon cut the deficit between them and the visitors when Sean Tucker flicked the ball into the net with seven minutes on the clock.
Wicklow would lose Oisin McGraynor to a serious-looking injury a minute later, just as the Avondale man was having an impact on the game. The Leinster men's momentum wasn’t too disrupted by the early change, and thanks to Kevin Quinn pointing from a free and open play, they would have a comfortable lead once more.
London were looking sharper after their goal and would enjoy a brief purple patch of scores when Daniel Clarke, Kristian Healy and Ciaran Diver helped turn up the heat on Wicklow and by the 23rd minute they only trailed by a point.
But just as they were starting to dictate, London were guilty of taking their foot off the gas, which allowed Wicklow to lead by four when Christopher O’Brien, Quinn and Nolan all scored in a three-minute spell.
However, London would finish the first-half the strongest. A lovely point from Joshua Obahor and another couple from Healy meant that the Londoners were well in the contest at the break as Wicklow held a narrow 0-10 to 1-06 lead.
It would be a second-half to remember for London.
After Fee and Quinn had increased the Wicklow advantage, the London native Liam Gallagher nailed a two-point free to keep them within touch of Oisin McConville’s men.
Quinn and substitute Eoin Darcy were keeping their side ahead, but London, who continued to grow in the game, would find themselves level thanks to two Patrick Dolan frees, which were followed by Sean Tucker grabbing the equalising score.
As the game neared its conclusion, it had become a shootout with points at either end and Wicklow found themselves in a proper dogfight with this determined London team. The introduction of Tighe Barry and Rafter turned the match in London’s favour as London closed the gap between them and their opposition.
Rafter would tie things up again nine minutes from the end, things would soon get better for the men from the English capital when Dolan gave them the lead for the first time in the 64th minute.
Darcy and Tara clubman Rafter would exchange scores, but it looked like Wicklow would break London hearts when Dean Healy kicked two massive scores to give his side the lead.
However, the game would take another twist when Gallagher stepped up and kicked another two-point free and the hosts were in front once more.
Deep into injury-time Nolan levelled with a '45 only for London to have the last laugh when Moynihan burst forward and sent the ball over the bar; the win was wrapped up nicely moments later when Rafter split the posts, rounding off an excellent team performance.
KEY: tp - two-point score; tpf - two-point free; tpm - two-point mark
London: Andrew Walsh; Daire Rooney, Sean Taylor, Nathan McElwaine; Eoin Walsh (Captain), Matt Moynihan (0-01), Kristian Healy (0-03); Aidan McLoughlin, Liam Gallagher (0-04, 2tpf); Daniel Clarke (0-01), Joshua Obahor (0-01), Ciaran Diver (0-03, 2f); Patrick Dolan (0-03, 2f), Henry Walsh, Sean Tucker (1-01)
Subs: Shay Rafter (0-03) for Henry Walsh (H/T), Ciaran McKeon for Daire Rooney (40’), Tighe Barry for Daniel Clarke (43’), Conal Gallagher for Sean Tucker (60’), DJ O’Flaherty for Ciaran Diver (74’)
Wicklow: Cathal Fitzgerald; Matt Nolan, Craig Maguire, Malachy Stone; Joe Prendergast, Patrick O’Keane, Darragh Fee; Dean Healy (Captain) (0-05, 1tp), Oisin McGraynor; John Paul Nolan (0-04, 1 ‘45), Pádraig O’Toole, Kevin Quinn (0-07, 5f); Conor Fee (0-2, 2f), Mark Kenny, Christopher O’Brien (0-01)
Subs: Tom Moran for Oisin McGraynor (9’), Andy Maher for Pádraig O’Toole (42’), Eoin Darcy for Kevin Quinn (Blood substitute 45’), Kevin Quinn for Eoin Darcy (Blood substitute reversal 46’), Eoin Darcy (0-2) for Conor Fee (51’), Matthew Ging for Mark Kenny (66’), Jacques McCall for Darragh Fee (74’)
Referee: Alan Coyne (Westmeath)
