Wicklow’s steely finish enough to edge Laois

IT might only have been the second weekend in January but Tony Hannon’s clenched fist celebrations after scoring what turned out to be the winning point in a chilly Portlaoise yesterday suggested Wicklow are well up for a repeat of their O’Byrne Cup run to the semi-finals in 2007.

Back then, Mick O’Dwyer’s arrival was enough to inspire the Garden County to a semi-final and even if their manager’s attitude towards the pre-season competition ranges from indifferent to dismissive, this victory over his former charges from the jaws of defeat will have given him some glee.

Wicklow will travel to Louth for next week’s quarter-final warmed by their steely finish. However, with 20 minutes to go, they looked to be cruising having built up a seven-point lead when substitute Conor McGraynor followed up on Hannon’s penalty in the 48th minute.