A superb second-half performance from Wicklow against Limerick in Aughrim meant they recovered a four-point deficit at the break to march into the Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final draw.
A repeat of one of the pairings from last year's Tailteann Cup semi-finals and with survival in this year’s competition on the line meant this game was always going to be tightly contested.
Limerick, playing with the aid of a healthy breeze in the first half, took full advantage in the opening seconds as Barry Coleman landed a sweet two-pointer for his side into the town end.
Wicklow moved the ball well and their opening score was a major from one such play. Eoin Murtagh got on the end of a superb team move to fire a bullet to the net from the thirteen.
Both sides traded points but Limerick began to shade the play as Tony McCarthy came up from centre-back for two points.
James Naughton, who had been quiet by his standards, then announced himself on the game as he got in behind the Wicklow cover and was racing through on goal only to be pulled down in the square. He converted a sweet penalty into the right corner making in 1-05 to 1-01 to the visitors.
However, Mark Jackosn stemmed the tide with a trademark two-point free off the deck and further points from Tom Moran and Eoin Darcy followed.
In this purple patch that Wicklow were enjoying it was only a matter of time before Dean Healy got in on the act and he set up a Padraig O’Toole goal by cutting inside at an angle and finding O’Toole who deftly kicked to the net.
Points followed for both sides but James Naughton landed a killer blow for Wicklow on the stroke of half-time as he broke the line on the 'D' and raced towards goal where he lobbed Mark Jackson with a fabulous finish. Limerick led 2-10 to 2-06 at the break.
Wicklow started the second half in devasting fashion. Dean Healy was first up scoring a goal of the season contender, as he danced his way through the Limerick defence having started on the 45 on the side-line before applying the finishing touches with a sweet finish to the net. The same man added a further two-pointer in between two Jonathan Carlin efforts.
Wicklow continued their dominance and led by four until midway through the half when Carlin received a black card for an off-the-ball incident which acted as a second yellow.
Immediately Danny Neville got Limerick’s first score of the half, leding to a nervy finish for the home side.
Eliah O’Riordan would find another score for Limerick but that would be as close as they would get as the Garden County men pushed for home with further points and a Malachy Stone goal which sealed the win.
Wicklow: Mark Jackson (0-04, 2 tpf); Tom Moran (0-01), Matt Nolan (0-01), Malachy Stone; Darragh Fee, Eoin Murtagh (1-00), Jonathan Carlin (0-02); Dean Healy (1-02, 1tp), Jack Hardy; Jack Kirwan, Padraig O’Toole (1-00), Christopher O’Brien; Oisin McGraynor (0-02), Mark Kenny, Eoin Darcy (0-03, 2f).
Subs: Kevin Quinn (0-02) for Mark Kenny (56), Gavin Fogarty for Christopher O’Brien (55) Joe Prendergast for Jack Hardy (57), Liam O’Neill for Jack Kirwan (60), Conall Gallagher for Eoin Murtagh (70)
Limerick: Jeffery Alfred; Sean Kilbridge, Cormac Woulfe, Diamuid Buckley; Mark McCarthy, Tony McCarthy (0-02), Barry Coleman (0-02, tp); Colm McSweeney, Eliah Riordan (0-01); Rory O’Brien, Danny Neville (1-04, 1tp), Cillian Fahy (0-03, 1tp); Robbie Childs, James Naughton (1-01, 1-00 pen, 1f) Peter Nash (0-01, 1f).
Subs: Shane Cross for Rory O’Brien (45), Tadgh O’Siochru for Robbie Childs (50), Darren O’Doherty for Sean Kilbride (56), Paul Maher for Barry Coleman (57), Killian Ryan for Mark McCarthy (60).
Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh)
