Wicklow began their Allianz Football League Division 4 in winning fashion by the slimmest of margins against a battling Leitrim side in Aughrim.
Mark Jackson was the hero on the day, landing the injury-time winner from a dead ball to add to his overall tally of 0-09.
The visitors opened the scoring with goalkeeper Daire O'Shea slotting a 45 into the Herbst end. Eoin Darcy responded in kind, converting a free he won from the small 'D' as the game began to take shape.
Two goal chances on either side followed as Ryan O’Rourke first tore through the Wicklow defence and unleashed a rasper which hit the top of Mark Jackson's crossbar and sailed over the bar.
Sean Murphy in the next play put Christopher O’Brien through for a goal effort, which was saved by Daire O’Shea. Mark Jackson converted the resulting 45 for the home side.
Both sides traded further points before the game's first major. Daire O’Shea’s 45, looked destined to go wide only for Ben Guckian to keep the ball in play and fire to the Wicklow net.
Fergal McLoughlin then swung a left boot at beauty from distance and saw his effort drop over the Wicklow crossbar before Rian O’Rourke converted a free, giving his side a four-point cushion.
Marksmen Eoin Darcy and Mark Jackson combined to leave a point between the sides at the break, 1-05 to 0-07 in favour of the visitors.
The second half began at a frantic pace as Wicklow took the lead following points from Christopher O’Brien, Dean Healy and Padraig O’Toole to one point from Ryan O’Rourke.
Mark Jackson followed this purple spell with a two, two-pointers, the second of which resulted in a black card for Leitrim centre back Mark Diffley.
Leitrim hit back with a Ben Guckian free and a fine point from Tom Prior, who was growing into the game. However, Wicklow looked to have the game sewn up when Eoin Darcy converted a penalty for the Garden County men midway through the half.
But Leitrim were determined to take this game to the wire and in the next play saw Riordan O’Rourke crash a rocket to the Wicklow net after a sweeping move.
Coming into the closing stages, Tom Prior and Oisin McLoughlin combined for three points between them as Leitrim hit the front for the first time since the restart.
A game of keep ball ensued as the tannoy announced there would be five minutes of injury time remaining, which left Cillian McDonald just enough time to win a free outside the 'D'.
Mark Jackson, who had not missed up to this point, converted one last two-pointer, sending Wicklow in front at the death by one for a hard-fought win.
Wickow: Mark Jackson (0-09, 1 45, 3 tpf); Tom Moran, Conall Gallagher, Cian Deering; James Fleming, Eoin Murtagh, Gavin Fogarty; Dean Healy (0-01), Jack Hardy; Cillian McDonald, Padraig O’Toole (0-01), Joe Prendergast; Christopher O’Brien (0-01), Sean Murphy, Eoin Darcy (1-05, 1p, 5f).
Subs: Oisin McGraynor for Joe Prendergast (h/t), Darragh Fee for James Fleming (45), Jacques McCall for Gavin Fogarty (60), Craig Maguire for Conall Gallagher (65).
Leitrim: Daire O’Shea (0-01, 1 45); Eoin McLoughlin, Kieran Clancy, Sean Harkin; James Rooney, Mark Diffley, Eanna McNamara; Conor Quinn, Keith Keegan; Fergal McLoughlin, Riordan O’Rourke (1-01), Tom Prior (0-03); Ben Guckian (1-01, 1f), Ryan O’Rourke (0-07, 5f), Jack Kelly.
Subs: Oisin Mc Loughlin for Jack Kelly (51), Michael Mc Kiernan for James Rooney (55), Arek Oberwan for Eanna McNamara (59) Gavin Reynolds for Fergal Mc Loughlin (62), Ruairi O’Rourke for Ben Guckian (65).
Referee: Ian Howley (Meath)
