Antrim 1-9; Wicklow 1-7: Wicklow's dreams of a play-off place were swept away at wintry Casement Park yesterday. Defeat leaves Wicklow third in the table and out of the semi-finals.
The visitors led by 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time, having played with the strong breeze. The goal was rifled home after 17 minutes by Stephen Byrne and the margin could have been more at the interval.
On 22 minutes, Breandán Ó hAnnaidh rocketed the ball off an Antrim post, Tommy Gill hit the bar from the rebound and his second effort was stopped by goalkeeper Seán McGreevy.
The defining moment arrived in the 61st minute. A long free-kick by Kevin McGourty was fielded by the bustling Darren O'Hare, who turned and fired a low drive to the net to put the Saffrons in front for the first time, and they held out for victory.
Breandán Ó Hannaidh was red-carded for an elbow into the face of Antrim's Peter McCann.
ANTRIM: S McGreevy; K Murray, D Martin, N Ward; G Adams, S Kelly, A Finnegan; J Quinn, M McCrory; J Marron (0-2), K McGourty (0-2), K Brady (0-1, one free); P Close (0-1), D O'Hare (1-0), P McCann (0-2, one free). Subs: C Brady for Martin (29 mins); K Madden (0-1, free) for K Brady (53); M McCarry for McCrory (56); M Dougan for O'Hare (69).
WICKLOW: R Hollingsworth; C Hyland, S Cushe, C Davis; N Butler, D Ó hAnnaidh, B Mernagh; B Sheehan, P O'Riordan (0-1); A Ellis, T Doyle (0-2), B Ó hAnnaidh; A Nolan, S Byrne (1-1), T Gill (0-1). Subs: T Hannon (0-1) for Gill (29 mins); I Burke for Mernagh (h-t); S Hurley (0-1) for Byrne (47); B Brady for Butler (63); C Foley for O'Riordan (67).
Referee: M Kolbohm (Tyrone)
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