Byrne's Return Helps Four-Goal Wicklow Win

Wicklow 4-9 Antrim 1-10

Wicklow got off to a great NFL start with a big win over Antrim at Aughrim on Sunday.

It was Shillelagh stalwart Keith Byrne, returning to the fold for the first time in six years, who started the goal rush that blew Antrim off course in this keenly contested match and gave Mick O’Dwyer the start he wanted in what is sure to be a very competitive division this year.

The men from the Glens were looking for their sixth win in a row over Wicklow and opened at a cracking pace.

Corner-forward Paddy Cunningham was on fire and was sending over points from play and frees with great regularity.

Twice in the first ten minutes Paul Earls brought Wicklow level with good points but Antrim were two points up - 0-4 to 0-2 - at the end of the first quarter.

Byrne struck for the first goal of the match in the 20th minute. A defence-splitting move started by Jacko Dalton and carried on by Earls was blasted to the net by Byrne and Wicklow were in front for the first time.

That goal took a lot of the sting out of the Antrim side and while Cunningham added two more points to his tally Wicklow finished strongly with a point from Byrne and two by Tommy Gill to lead by 1-5 to 0-6 at half-time.

It was still all to play for in the second half, but not for long. Inside a minute of the restart, Tommy Gill had struck for two more goals and Wicklow were on their way.

The first goal was set up by Earls within 30 seconds and before goalie Seán McGreevy had time to replace his plastic tee the ball was back in his net --the move started by Keith Byrne and carried on by Earls before Gill again claimed the finish.

In the 45th minute Jacko Dalton blasted home goal number four to put the result beyond any doubt.

Chris Lynch pulled back a goal for Antrim in the 50th minute but that was as close as the Ulster men were to get.

Mick O’Dwyer made five changes in personnel to his line-out for this match.

Tommy Gill was back after injury and took over his regular number 13 spot.

Byrne and another veteran, Barry O’Donovan from Blessington, were called into the squad while last year’s keeper Ray Daniels got his first start in goal.

Stephen Byrne (Rathnew) also got his first start at wing-back.

Alan Byrne was again the star of a sound defence where Ciarán Foley, Leighton Glynn and Ciarán Hyland also did well.

James Stafford had a great second half at mid-field while Barry O’Donovan came into the game in the last quarter.

The stars were all up front: Jacko Dalton, Keith Byrne, Gill and Early all laying strong claims to man-of-the-match accolade.

Wicklow finished the match with 14 men after Dara O’hAnnaidh was sent off on a second yellow with ten minutes to go.

Wicklow’s next outing is away to Cavan, under lights at Breffni Park on Saturday evening.

WICKLOW: Ray Daniels; Ciaran Hyland, Dara O’hAnnaidh, Alan Byrne; Stephen Byrne, Ciaran Foley, Leighton Glynn; James Stafford (0-1), Barry O’Donovan; John Slattery (0-1), Keith Byrne (1-1), John Paul Dalton (1-0); Tommy Gill (2-2), Paul Earls (0-4), Tony Hannon.

Subs: Stevie Cush for S Byrne; Brian Lennon for Hannon.

ANTRIM: Seán McGreevy; Chris Lynch (1-0), Colin Brady, Conor McGoldrick; Seam McVeigh, Gavin Bell, Tony Scullion; Joe Quinn, Michael McCann; Paul Doherty, Kevin Niblock, Aodhan Gallagher (0-1); Ciaran Close, Kevin Brady, Paddy Cunningham (0-7). Subs: Justin Cruiser for McVeigh; Conor McGourty for C.Close; James Loughrey (0-1) for Scullion; Paddy Logan (0-1) for Niblock; Oisin McAteer for C.Brady.

REF: John Bannon (Longford).