Wicklow staged a dramatic fight-back in the final quarter of their championship game at Arklow yesterday, but it was not enough to stop opponents Kildare winning by four points and advancing to meet Meath.

After 17 minutes of the second half, Wicklow were in a hopeless position - 15 points down and reduced to 14 men after centre back Casey O'Brien was sent off.

However, Kildare backs were to the wall in the last quarter as Wicklow hit nine unanswered points from Joe Murphy, Michael Moran, MJ O'Neill, John O'Toole and John Keogh.

But it was not enough. They could not break down a tightened Kildare defence for the goal they needed.

This was the first appearance of Wicklow and Kildare in the Leinster senior hurling championship in many years and they served up a useful game of hurling despite their lowly status.

KILDARE: P Ryan; N Swan, S Gleeson, B Maher; D Harney, E Deniffe, R Hoban; J Bren- nan (0-1), N Casey; J Dempsey (2-0), C Buggy, N O'Callaghan; T Spain (2-2), C Sheridan, T Carew (1-8). Subs: P Rohan for B Maher.

WICKLOW: C Byrne, A Lawlor, MA O'Neill, G Byrne, R O'Brien, C O'Brien (0-1), T Collins, J Murphy (0-1), D Curran, MJ O'Neill (0-1), J O'Toole (0-1), J Berkery (0-1), J Keogh (0-8), D Hyland (1-2), W O'Gorman (1-0). Subs: Graham Keogh for R O'Brien; Michael Moran (0-1) for T Collins.

Referee: T McIntyre (Antrim).