Wicklow played free-flowing football at Casement Park, taking some excellent long-range scores, and deserved this win.

Antrim, in contrast, were slow in their build-ups and slow in thought and missed a number of key chances. A seventh-minute goal by Kevin Madden put them ahead at 1-0 to 0-2 but it didn't upset the visitors.

The Leinster team led 0-8 to 1-2 after a scrappy first half, and though Antrim produced better football in the second half with the wind behind them they could never get on terms. They closed the gap to a point in the 38th, 47th, 53rd and 59th minutes, but each time they were pegged back.

Tommy Gill landed three excellent, long-range points each time Antrim got close and points by John O'Keefe, Trevor Doyle and Kevin O'Brien between the 61st and 69th minutes polished off the home side who were unfortunate to lose full back Martin Mulholland with an injury in the 14th minute and had Con Colman sent off for a foul on Kevin O'Brien 20 minutes from time.

WICKLOW: T Murphy; S Nolan, B O'Donovan, T Burke; B O hAnnnaidh, M Coffey, R Boyle; S O'Neill (0-1), B Sheehan; J O'Keefe (0-2), D McGillicuddy, T Doyle (0-3); T Gill (0-4), R Coffey (0-2), K O'Brien (0-3). Subs: T Hannon for McGillicuddy (half-time); O O hAnnaidh for R Doyle (half-time).

ANTRIM: D Shannon; J Kelly, M Mulholland, A Finnegan; G Adams, C McKearney, P McCann; J Quinn (0-2), C Coleman; K Brady, J Barr, K Madden (1-4); J McManus, R Hamill, E McCann (0-1). Subs: C Anderson for Mulholland (14 mins); S McQuillan (0-2) for Barr (45 mins); P Logan for Hamill (45 mins); A Morris for McKearney (50 mins); E McKenna for McManus (60 mins).

Referee: J McKee (Armagh).