Injury-time score puts Wicklow into fourth round

Wicklow 1-15 Down 0-17

Wicklow have won through to the fourth round of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers for the first time, sealing a dramatic win over Down with an injury-time ‘45’ from man-of-the-match Tony Hannon.

Mick O’Dwyer’s men completed a magical Ulster hat-trick, claiming the scalp of Down after wins in the previous rounds over Fermanagh and Cavan – all at their increasingly imposing fortress of Aughrim.

The game was seven minutes old when Leighton Glynn, Wicklow’s inspirational captain, dispossessed Damien Rafferty in front of the Down goal and placed a terrific left-footed shot beyond Brendan McVeigh for the only goal.

Glynn’s effort, bolstered by three-point contributions from Hannon and Seanie Furlong, spurred the hosts towards a 1-09 to 0-09 half-time lead.

But the Down forwards caused consistent problems for the Wicklow defence and as the game wore, Danny Hughes, Paul McComiskey and Benny Coulter grew in influence.

Hughes kicked three points in the first half and with Down manager Ross Carr unloading his bench, Wicklow’s lead was erased just after the hour mark.

Substitutes Ronan Sexton, Aidan Carr and Ronan Murtagh added pace and purpose to Down’s attacks and while Hannon’s fifth point of the encounter restored Wicklow’s three-point advantage (1-14 to 0-14), Carr’s charges were coming strong.

Murtagh, defender Ciaran McGovern and Coulter all raised white flags as the Mourne men levelled and set up a tense finale.

Down, looking the stronger side with the wind behind them, had opportunities to go in front but Conor Garvey, Ambrose Rogers and Aidan Carr all failed to find the target.

Carr was the guiltiest of the lot, missing the posts from a right-sided free after McGovern was fouled by Dara O hAnnaidh.

Nevertheless, showing tremendous spirit and displaying an infectious work-rate, Wicklow galloped forward in the third-minute of injury-time to set up a key, final attack.

The ball was worked in towards the Down square and broke for James Stafford. All the Wicklow midfielder needed to do was fist the ball over the crossbar but his instinct saw him go for goal instead and goalkeeper McVeigh blocked his snapshot away for a ‘45’.

Referee Gearoid O Conamha, who must be praised for his involvement in a free-flowing game, ruled that there was enough time for the placed ball to be taken.

All the focus was now on Hannon but he coolly curled his kick over the black spot, using the wind to good effect, to spark wild celebrations and send Wicklow into the uncharted territory of the All-Ireland’s last 12.