O'Dwyer expects another close game

Mick O'Dwyer wants his Wicklow players to finish the job when they meet Armagh in tonight's All-Ireland SFC second round qualifier replay.

The 'Micko factor' is alive and well in the Garden County judging by last weekend's 2-13 to 0-19 draw with the Orchard men.

The gap between top flight football and Division 4 was completely erased by another heroic summer display from O'Dwyer's well-drilled side.

In what could be his last Championship campaign as a manager, the 75-year-old seems intent on going out with a bang.

After what he described as Wicklow's 'best display' since his arrival in the county in 2006, O'Dwyer will ask them to go to the well once more.

"Armagh will be more determined coming down to Aughrim, but we have as good a chance here as we had in Armagh," he surmised.

"It will be touch and go. Whether we like it or not this is a very good Armagh team. Most of those young players have won Under-21 and minor All-Irelands which is a big plus for any team.

"But our players are well capable to taking care of themselves. If Armagh target some of them, it will not make any difference I assure you.

"And you'll also find that other players will come up to the mark the next day. Saturday was a great experience for a lot of our players. I think it will be touch and go in the replay - there won't be much in it."

One of the players who has thrived under O'Dwyer's guidance is James Stafford. The big midfielder emptied the tank in an inspirational shift at the Morgan Athletic Grounds, but injured his ankle at training on Wednesday night and is doubtful for the rematch.

However, the Wicklow camp remain hopeful that the Rathnew clubman will pull through as the ankle is responding to treatment.

There has been a huge scramble for tickets for the replay, especially with the ground's capacity being capped at 6,300 by the GAA for healthy and safety reasons.

The last remaining tickets were snapped by Wicklow fans yesterday morning, while Armagh have sold their full allocation and expect a considerable travelling support.

If Wicklow can cause the upset they threatened last Saturday, then two of Gaelic football's most successful ever managers will face off in Omagh next week.

Mickey Harte's Tyrone await the winners of the eagerly-awaited Aughrim encounter, and O'Dwyer reckons his charges have what it takes to book that date.

"To win on Saturday will be most important. I would love to go to Omagh to play Tyrone. That would be great for Wicklow football.

"This is a great morale builder for Wicklow. The players now realise they can compete with the best. Wicklow are there or thereabouts - there is no question about that."

The Kerryman feels that home advantage could prove crucial when Armagh come to town. Just two years ago it was very much a case of 'fortress Aughrim' as Wicklow strung together home wins over Fermanagh, Cavan and Down in the qualifiers.

O'Dwyers believes that there is more to come from his underrated panel, and that they can eclipse what they achieved in the 2009 Championship.

"Since I came here, we have rarely been beaten in any game. I suppose Kildare beat us by seven this year, that was one of the biggest margins since I came here," he added.

"The way that things have turned out, with Kildare hammering everybody since, that was a good Wicklow performance in retrospect.

"We are nearly there now, I can assure you. We are getting better by the day. Wicklow are a young side as well. Wicklow are not a joke anymore, I assure you.

"We have the replay in Aughrim and we won't be fazed. It will be interesting. The supporters will really get behind us again and it will be a good game."