Wicklow fight back to stun Down in Tailteann final
· Yahoo Sports
Wicklow came from 13 points behind to stun Down and claim the Tailteann Cup for the first time with a 1-21 to 2-16 victory at a sunny Croke Park.
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Oisin McConville's side, that played Division Four football this year, had enjoyed some fine wins along the way to this decider, but saved their best for last with a remarkable comeback when it seemed Down were set to power home in style.
At half-time, they trailed by a dozen points with Down finding the net through Pat Havern and John McGeough, while a Shane Annett score extended the gap after the break.
Yet Wicklow suddenly came to life as they found a bit of momentum and didn't let go as they whittled down the lead and a goal from captain and man of the match Dean Healy levelled it, while they held their nerve late to finish the job in sensational fashion.
It's not the first time Oisin McConville's side have done it in this competition either, as they fought back from the brink at the quarter-final stage in similar circumstances, proving they are a team with no quit and now a team with a title win.
The win guarantees Wicklow's place in next year's All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
Down dominate the opening period
Both sides looked a little nervy early on with Wicklow particularly so and were almost punished with a fourth-minute goal as, switching off from a free, Pat Havern was played in but blazed over.
This certainly steadied Down who opened a five-point lead after 10 minutes with a Miceal Rooney two-pointer included.
Wicklow were guilty of some basic errors in attack and looked a little ponderous but were finally off the mark from an Oisin McGraynor free after 12 minutes, but goalkeeper Mark Jackson couldn't find his range from three opportunities.
Ronan Burns hit back with the first of his first-half two-point frees and it got better for Down as from a Daniel Guinness punt inside and Jackson out of his area having score up to hit a free, Havern got highest to palm home.
Pat Havern scored Down's first goal [Getty Images]Down were 11 to the good when Kevin Quinn grabbed Wicklow's first from play on 21 minutes and after the sides traded, they had a great opportunity to roar into the game.
When on the front foot, they had looked dangerous at times with Down needing to be alert in defence, but when Padraig O'Toole stormed into the box, Guinness was penalised and a penalty awarded but Burns saved from Eoin Darcy and again from the follow-up effort.
Jackson did land the 45 to ensure the Garden County got something out of the attack, but two minutes later they conceded another goal.
Odhran Murdock shot for a point but a slight touch saw it lack the distance with John McGeough reading the situation to palm home and open a 2-10 to 0-4 lead for Down at the break.
Wicklow roar back to take control
While Shane Annett extended the lead straight after the break, Wicklow appeared stung into action as Padraig O'Toole kicked the first of his three points and a two-pointer by Eoin Darcy brought his side's supporters to life.
They ate into the gap and had a couple of sights at goal, only for Burns to again rescue Down from Kevin Quinn but McGraynor managed a point from the rebound.
Quinn would blaze an effort wide soon after but did fist a point as Wicklow again turned Down over, while a two-pointer by Christopher O'Brien left four between them.
While Eamon Brown ensured all six of Down's forwards were on the board, confidence was flowing for Wicklow as a McGraynor two-pointer brought that gap down to a goal entering the final quarter.
Dean Healy's goal levelled the goal [Getty Images]After an exchange of points, that goal arrived in superb style as Dean Healy took a pass around the 45, cut past a challenge before racing at goal and thumping past Burns.
Points from Miceal Rooney and Ruairi McCormack edged down back in front, only for Jackson to find his range from a free outside the arc to level it again.
It was all to play for in the final 10 minutes and Down thought they had a third goal but Darragh Fee somehow got back to clear off the line from Caolan Mooney, although Wicklow would lose Tom Moran to a 64th minute black card that would ensure they would finish with 14 players.
Yet it still couldn't halt their charge as Darcy pointed a 65th-minute free to give them the lead for the first time.
Down had lost their way in attack as while they created opportunities, Annett, Murdock and McCormack couldn't find a score with Wicklow breaking in the dying seconds and Kevin Quinn kicked the insurance score.
It was the most dramatic of wins, but in the end fully deserved as Wicklow stayed true to form in the competition and not for the first time, fighting back to seal a dramatic win.
Teams and scorers
Down: Ronan Burns (0-4, 2x2pf); Peter Fegan, Pierce Laverty, Patrick Brooks; Callum Rogers, Shane Annett (0-1), Ruairi McCormack (0-1); Ryan McEvoy, Odhran Murdock; Daniel Guinness (0-1), Ceilum Doherty (0-3), Miceal Rooney (0-3, 1x2p); John McGeough (1-0), Pat Havern (1-2, 0-1f), Eamon Brown (0-1).
Subs: Caolan Mooney for P McCarthy (28), Ryan Magill for C Rogers (48), Ruairi O'Hare for J McGeough (53), Patrick Brooks for E Brown (64).
Wicklow: Mark Jackson (0-3, 1x2pf, 1x45); Tom Moran, Matt Nolan, Malachy Stone; Farragh Fee, Eoin Murtagh, Gavin Fogarty; Dean Healy (1-1), Jack Kirwin; Jonathan Carlin, Padraig O'Toole (0-3), Christopher O'Brien (0-2, 1x2p); Oisin McGraynor (0-4, 1x2p,1f), Kevin Quinn (0-4), Eoin Darcy (0-4, 1x2p, 1f).
Subs: Joe Prendergast for J Kirwin (52), Cian Deering for E Murtagh (54), Mark Kenny for G Fogarty (59), John Paul Nolan for O McGraynor (68), Liam O'Neill for E Darcy (69).
Referee: Barry Tiernan (Dublin)