Byrne the difference

The fact Wicklow had the national long puck champion in goalkeeper Colin Byrne came in handy against Down at Arklow yesterday.

With 30 seconds left on the clock, Byrne stepped up to a free, 50 yards from his own goal with the sides level, and he coolly sent his shot between the Down posts for the winner.

Down's goalkeeper Graham Clarke had no such luck 15 minutes earlier. With 20 minutes of the second half gone, the score stood at 1-8 to 0-11 when Down were awarded a penalty.

Clarke's shot was blocked by midfielder Joe Murphy and cleared by Alan Lawlor.

WICKLOW: C Byrne (0-1); M A O'Neill, A Delaney, A Lawlor; G Murray, C O'Brien, M J O'Neill; J O'Neill (0-8), J Murphy; W O'Gorman (0-2), J O'Toole (0-2), N Byrne; D Curran, D Hyland (0-2), S Berkery. Sub: M Moran for D Cullen.

DOWN: Graham Clarke; D Byers, S Murray, J Traynor; Gabriel Clarke, G Savage, S Wilson (1-2); P Monan, G Adair; M Craig (0-1), P Braniff (0-4), B Braniff; N Sands (0-2), J McGrattan, J Hughes (0-1). Subs: G McGrattan (0-1), for P Monan; M Braniff for B Braniff; T Masterson for M Craig.

Referee: D Kirwan (Cork).