Hopes for a season to remember under new coach Mick O'Dwyer will not have faded in Wicklow after the county got the new era underway with a O'Byrne Cup win over Carlow at Aughrim this afternoon.
It was far from plain sailing for Wicklow, however, but a big home crowd eventually got what they came for.
The Garden County trailed by two points with four minutes remaining after Carlow's Derek Hayden rifled home two second half goals.
In fact, the youngster claimed a personal haul of two goals and three points.
O'Dwyer's sides have always had grit and character though, and they showed it in spades when overturning the deficit.
Tommy Gayle drew the sides level and the game was finished in style when substitute Paul Phibbs's goal gave Wicklow and Micko a three point win, and paved the way into the second round of the cup.
The win means Wicklow have already equalled the one win they recorded last year when they beat London.
O'Dwyer's men will face Wexford in Aughrim next week and an even larger crowd is expected for that one.