Wicklow retained Division 2A status after a commanding win in Trim this afternoon, writes Shane Ferguson.
The game, originally set for Navan, was changed to a 2pm throw-in earlier in the week. A decision that was obviously not communicated to the match officials, who failed to make any representation until 15 minutes past the hour.
Wicklow made one change from the team stated in the programme, with Jim Connors coming in for Tommy Doyle. Jonathan O’Neill came back into the side after much speculation about the severity of his injury had echoed around the ground in Meath.
Down were first to make a dent in the scoreboard, and it would be Paul Braniff from play. The number 14 clinically exploited space in front of the Wicklow post to knock it over. Shortly after, Aaron O’Prey would get his only score of the game for Down as they made it 0-02 to 0-00 after 3 minutes.
The importance of this game wasn’t lost on any one in the Trim ground today. Wicklow had travelled to Newry earlier in the year, escaping with a point. More would be needed if they were to continue the fantastic strides they had made in the last 2 years.
Ronan Keddy would get the Garden County’s first score after bursting free and dispatching a shot from 30 yards out that sailed straight down the middle.
Daniel Toner would respond for Down after poor defending by the Wicklow defence.
Toner’s point came on 7 Minutes. Its significance would be that no other player outside of Paul Braniff would score for Down in the remaining 63’ odd minutes.
Wicklow closed the gap on 7 Minutes when Andy O’Brien, under pressure from Hughes, turned and raised a white flag with ease.
It would get better from the Garden County. Wayne O’Gorman evaded three down players to create space for Eamonn Kearns. O’Gorman laid it off for the Avondale man to blast a rising shot into the net and raise the first green flag of the day.
Down responded with two points from Paul Braniff before O’Gorman got on the scoresheet with a tap over from a tight angle.
Wicklow would be getting used to this sight, as 14 Braniff knocked over another point to level before Eamonn Kearns gave Wicklow the lead.
Enan Glynn led the charge as he scored another two points. The second being one of composure and brilliance. As Down’s Fintan Conway brought the ball out of the defence, Glynn chased and chased to hook the ball off the Down man’s hurl and over his head. It gave him a second of space with which he dispatched the score with confidence and gave Wicklow a three point lead.
Wicklow stretched their lead even further after Andy O’Brien, surrounded by three defenders, still managed to get off a shot that sailed over the spot. Cuddihy and Bosco added to the tally to open up 7 point lead after 28 minutes.
Down closed out the half the strongest though, with none other than Paul Braniff adding to his tally and leaving the gap at 5 points at the whistle.
Hailstones greeted both sets of players as they returned to the field. It would be Down that would weather them best at the start though, as Branfill added two points from two attacks to chip away at the gap.
Wicklow would get a major call 2 minutes later. Andy O’Brien, who may not have been scoring freely, was making trouble for the Down defence whenever a ball came in and the constant niggling fouls he was on the end of finally, reaped a reward when the referee spread his arms and signalled a penalty.
Bosco stepped up and dually dispatched it to raise Wicklow’s second green flag and give them some semblance of comfort as the half progressed.
Enan Glynn grabbed a point from a tight angle to edge the gap to 7, but in truth, and as in Newry, this game was a long way from finished.
As the game matured, points were exchanged. Braniff would score, Wicklow would respond. Be it Keddy, O’Gorman or Bosco, Wicklow were always responding to a Braniff pioint
Wicklow were close, and they sensed it. But with the gap at just 3 points, it was never safe. And hearts dropped in the dying seconds when a ball was launched in, only for a Down forward to swipe it across goal only to see it drift wide. Joe Murphy has his hand waving it wide, but how sure he was, well, it’s for him to say.
And from that, the whistle blew to signal Wicklow’s status as Division 2 A Hurlers would stay as it is.
A fantastic achievement by Casey O’Brien and the Wicklow Hurlers. More so after the changing of the league structure diluted their achievements of 2011, and they found themselves in what was essentially the same League they had been promoted from.
As ever, they showed spirit and fight and done it when it matters. A trait of Casey’s Team.
The significance of the win could be seen in the players faces as they made their way to the dressing room. The smile that beamed from O’Briens face sowed what this meant. This team had been thrown a challenge. They accepted it and beaten it.
It was another proud day for Wicklow, a feeling that the footballers and the hurlers have spoilt us with in the last couple of weeks.
Next up is Kerry in the Christy Ring. A tough one, no doubt. But if any team can pull a result out of the bag, you could look no further than these boys.
SCORERS — Wicklow: J O’Neill (1-0 pen, 1f), E Kearns 1-1 each, W Gorman, E Glynn 0-3 each, A O’Brien, R Keddy 0-2 each, B Cuddihy, C Moorehouse 0-1 each. Down: P Braniff 0-14 (10f), M Cunningham (sl), D Toner, A O’Prey 0-1 each.
WICKLOW — J Murphy 7; Jim 6, G Keogh 7, B Cuddihy 7; J Henderson 7, S Kelly 7, G Bermingham 7; E Kearns 8, R Keddy 7; 6, W O’Gorman 7, E Dunne 6; E Glynn 8, J O’Neill 8, A O’Brien 7. Subs: Christy Moorehouse 7 for John Connors (26), E O’Neill 6 for Jim Connors (49), L Kennedy for Dunne (66).
DOWN — S Keith 7; M Hughes 6, S Ennis 7, J Smyth 6; F Conway 7, C Woods 7, M Ennis 7; E Clarke 6, M Cunningham 7; P Sheehan 6, P Braniff 9, A O’Prey 7; D Toner 6, P Keith 6, C Mageean 6. Subs: A Savage 6 for Clarke (50), D Hughes 6 for Sheehan (50), M Turley 5 for P Keith (57), D Hobbs for Toner (67).
REF — F Smith (Meath).
