A pair of second-half goals proved the difference as Antrim got back to winning ways in Division Three of the Allianz Football League at the expense of Wicklow who are still seeking their first victory.
Lámh Dhearg duo Marc Jordan and Conor Murray were the men to find the net and in fairness, the hosts were well worth their victory as they dominated territory and possession, but it took until Murray's goal deep in stoppage time to finally put this game to bed.
After a disappointing loss against Limerick the last day, Antrim began much brighter, owning possession in the first 15 minutes and were completely dominant at both ends of the field.
They went three up through Ruairí McCann, a deft effort off the right boot of Ryan Murray from a tight angle and another from Odhrán Eastwood after a fine build-up underlined their superiority.
McCann added another on 16 minutes, but just as it seemed Wicklow were getting nowhere in attack, they went direct from their next attack as Eoin Darcy gathered in the left corner, played a good ball inside to Kevin Quinn who found space on his right to get through and thump over Oisin Kerr and into the net.
Mark Kenny equalised straight after and while Antrim may have been wondering just what happened, they responded well with Kevin Small lashing over from deep and then from a mistake at the restart, Eastwood profited to score.
The hosts really should have had a goal when Eastwood pounded on a mistake and soccer-style dribbled and passed inside to Jamie Gribbin who will have been disappointed with his effort from close range as he failed to turn home and then was denied from the follow-up by Wicklow goalkeeper Shane Doyle.
The visitors broke straight up the field with Darragh Fitzgerald pointing and Eoin Murtagh then tied it again.
Ryan Murray appeared to give Antrim a lead going into the break with his second of the day, but an Oisin McGraynor free with the last kick of the half left the sides level at the break, 0-07 to 1-04.
After an exchange of points early in the second period, Antrim bagged their first goal on 40 minutes after a quick exchange of passes resulted in Tomás McCann passing to Marc Jordan to blast home.
Andy Maher hit back with a Wicklow point, but goal chances came and went at both ends with Tomás McCann denied by a square ball in the build-up and Kevin Small rattling the bar for Antrim, while Rory Stokes flashed a shot across goal at the other end.
The hosts finally gained breathing space with points from Conor Murray and Ruairi McCann to end a barren 18-minute period and while there was just three in it in stoppage time after Kenny had kicked a free for Wicklow to keep the visitors in touch, Conor Murray thumped to the net deep in stoppage time to seal the Antrim win.
Antrim: O Kerr; E McCabe, R Johnston, P McCormick; P McAleer, J Laverty, P Healy; M McCann, K Small (0-01); R Muray (0-02), J Gribbin, M Jordan (1-00); T McCann (0-01), R McCann (0-03, 1f), O Eastwood (0-02)
Subs: C Murray (1-01) for E McCabe (HT), P McBride for P McAleer (50), S McGarry for T McCann (55), M Johnston for M Jordan (59), P Shivers for R Johnston (68).
Wicklow: S Doyle; P O'Keane, M Stone, N Devereux; Z Cullen, N Donnelly, E Murtagh (0-01), D Healy, P O'Toole; A Maher (0-01), M Kenny (0-03, 2f), D Fitzgerald (0-01); O McGraynor (0-01f), K Quinn (1-00), E Darcy.
Subs: T Moran for N Devereux (HT), R Stokes for E Darcy (50), JP Hurley for K Quinn (64), C Maguire for Z Cullen (70)
Referee: Paul Faloon (Down)
