A powerful opening half display decided this one as Cavan built up an unassailable 2-08 to 0-01 interval to bring Wicklow’s season to a halt in Aughrim.
Cavan were full value for that big interval advantage and they snuffed out any hope of a Wicklow revival as they pushed home to win by 14 points.
Cavan were dominant from the outset and the game was over as a contest when they raced into a 1-06 to 0-00 lead by the time Wicklow managed their first score ten minutes from the interval.
The home side didn’t help their cause with some poor wides, while at the other end Gearoid McKiernan was precise in front of goal for the Ulster side.
Ciaran Brady was also sharp for Cavan and they took a major step towards the next round when Martin Reilly slotted home a penalty after midfielder Killian Clarke was fouled.
Rory Finn finally got Wicklow on the board with a good point after 25 minutes.
But any hopes of a serious comeback were dispelled when McKiernan put Brady through for Cavan’s second goal before the break.
Wicklow, in fairness, did not give up but while they enjoyed plenty of possession the third quarter and created some worthwhile chances, their accuracy let them down.
Cavan turned the screw with another couple of points from Gearoid McKiernan and it was really only a matter of playing down the clock from there.
Long-serving Wicklow midfielder ensured they finished their season on a positive note when he scored a late goal but by then Wicklow’s name was firmly in the draw for the next round.
Cavan: J Farrelly; K Brady, P Faulkner, E Flanagan; C Brady (1-03), C Moynagh, M Reilly (1-00); S McCormack, K Clarke; B Magee, G McKiernan (0-05), O Kiernan (0-01); C O'Reilly (0-02), D McVeety (0-01), S Johnston (0-02).
Subs used: Conor Bradley for Magee (45), Cian Mackey (0-02) for Johnston (51), Jack Wharton for Moynagh (56), Niall Clerkin for O’Reilly (59), Donal Monahan for Flanagan (61), Adrian Cole for McVeety (63).
Wicklow: M Jackson (0-03); E Murtagh, R O'Brien, P Merrigan; J Crowe, D Healy, S Kearon; R Finn (0-01), J Stafford (1-00); T Smyth, J Snell, D Hayden (0-01); S Furlong, J McGrath, M Kenny.
Subs used: Kevin Murphy for Crowe (34), Darragh Fitzgerald for McGrath (35), Cathal Magee for Kearon (42), Daniel Keane for Furlong (47), Brendan Kennedy for Smyth (56), PJ O’Keeffe for Murphy (56).
Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo).
