Wicklow show mark of Micko

WICKLOW might become the first county Mick O’Dwyer will depart without winning championship silverware but the ethos and style of football that the Kerry legend has promoted for over half a century is clearly embedded in the Garden County.

Wicklow could hardly have paid a better tribute to O’Dwyer than the style and quality of football they produced in the Morgan Athletic Grounds on Saturday night.

It was O’Dwyer football at its best, high fielding, quick delivery and long balls into attack. The basic skills, from picking rolling balls to putting passes in front of players were abundantly evident and they would have won this qualifier if they had another forward like Leighton Glynn who could pick off half chances.

They may well, of course, finally put Armagh to the sword in the replay having lost the lead in the dying moments of normal time and again at the end of extra-time.

But O’Dwyer was far from despondent afterwards and instead the 75-year-old concentrated on the positives.

“When the heart can stand up to that, that heart of mine must be pretty good,” he said.

“Even though I have had stents and all fitted, but stents don’t matter when it comes to that kind of stuff.

“I love that, I enjoyed that, every moment. It was a terrific game. The ref let the game flow and that made the game. It was real Gaelic football at its best. Man-for-man stuff all the way. It was an outstanding game,” said O’Dwyer.

His side were twice poised for victory but a stumbling Armagh side forced extra-time with a late point and then a replay with the second-last kick of the game.

Armagh had defender Aaron Kernan to thank for preventing a shock exit as the wing-back kicked three points from distance in the second half of extra-time.

Seanie Furlong’s second goal in the second half of stoppage time looked to be enough to seal a famous win but Kernan rescued Armagh.

Wicklow dominated the opening half with the wind at their backs and should have built up an unassailable lead but, crucially, Micheal O’Rourke and Malachy Mackin landed points just before the break to reduce the deficit to 0-9 to 0-4.

Wicklow, with James Stafford and Rory Finn dominant in midfield, controlled proceedings and while the final ball into attack often left the attacker with too much to do, Armagh spent the opening half on the back foot.

Armagh brought captain Stevie McDonnell out the field before the break in a bid to stem the flow, having not opened their account until 19 minutes into the game.

Leighton Glynn increased Wicklow’s lead four minutes after the restart but then Armagh took control with Charlie Vernon coming into the game in midfield.

But it was the display of Jamie Clarke who hauled Armagh back into contention as the corner-forward hit five points from play in the second half. Armagh scored eight points without reply with Clarke levelling after 58 minutes before Malachy Mackin edged them in front for the first time with eight minutes left.

However, Furlong burst through for a Wicklow goal three minutes from time. It looked like that might be enough only for Gavin McParland to force extra-time with a superb point from the right moments after he was introduced in stoppage time.

Armagh outscored Wicklow by 0-3 to 0-2 in the first period of extra-time despite playing against the wind and it seemed as if the challenge of O’Dywer’s men would dissolve.

Kernan went forward for a brace of points only for Furlong to get his second goal to edge Wicklow in front after a long ball by Darren Hayden.

But their hopes of a dramatic win were dashed when Kernan forced a replay with a last-gasp equaliser to keep his side in the championship.

Scorers for Armagh: J Clarke 0-5, S McDonnell 0-4 (1f, 1 45), M Mackin, A Kernan 0-3 each, M O’Rourke, G McParland, J Hanratty, C Vernon 0-1 each.

Scorers for Wicklow: S Furlong 2-4 (3fs), L Glynn 0-4, T Hannon 0-3 (1f, 1 45), N Mernagh, J Stafford 0-1 each.

Subs for Armagh: D McKenna for Duffy, (36), J Hanratty for Dyas (41), T Kernan for B Mallon (44), J Murtagh for O’Rourke (53), G McParland for Murtagh (71), P Duffy for McKeever (84), K Dyas for Moriarty (90).

Subs for Wicklow: C McGraynor for Mernagh (45), A O’Malley for Dalton (52), D Siney for Hannon (65), P Dalton for Hyland (70), JP Dalton for Earls (80), P Higgins for McGrath (88).

Referee: P Fox (Westmeath).