WEXFORD 1-15 WICKLOW 0-17 (AET)WEXFORD PROVED their resolve through a remarkable 90 minutes, with a Paudie Kelly 74th-minute goal eventually pushing them on to a one-point victory over a battling Wicklow outfit in this hugely-entertaining O'byrne Shield Senior football clash at St. Patrick's Park, Enniscorthy, on Sunday last.

For such an early-season clash, this was a game which really surpassed expectations in front of the large crowd, as both sides battled their way through a teak-tough encounter. The sides were level on no fewer than eight occasions, and it was always going to take a goal to separate them.

As Wicklow discovered to their cost, they need to put away their chances, particularly at crucial stages. They were offered three point opportunities in the closing minutes of normal time, with Nicky Mernagh missing out on two, while Tony Hannon was short from a '45 with the last kick of normal time, resulting from Mernagh's point attempt being blocked away.

Unlike Wicklow, the home side were making better use of the chances created, which was a telling factor in keeping them in the game during the first 70 minutes, as they were continually battling from behind against a Wicklow side clearly determined to lay down a marker with their neighbours.

The quality of football from both sides, given that the season is only a few weeks under way, was exceptionally high. The movement was quick, with the game being played at pace, while there were also some tremendous individual tussles which helped to lift the tempo.

Wicklow should have had a goal inside 90 seconds of the start when full-forward Peadar Burke found himself inside the defence but pulled his shot across the face of the goal and narrowly wide, but it's these type of chances that need to be put away.

Wexford were playing into the breeze but still managed to take a third-minute lead through a Shane Roche point. Wicklow corner-forward Seánie Furlong had the sides level one minute later after which Kevin O'grady and Austin O'malley exchanged points. The sides continued to trade points through Rory Quinlivan and Frank Clune, leaving them deadlocked on 03 each after ten minutes.

Wicklow went on to enjoy one of their better spells, driven on by James Stafford out of midfield, as they kicked three unanswered points through Frank Clune (free), Seánie Furlong and Clune once again to lead by 0-6 to 0-3 after 25 minutes. The Wicklow attacking play was overdone, resulting in losing out on some real scoring opportunities, before a James Holmes point for the home side helped to break their barren spell.

Seven minutes before the break Wexford should have goaled. A great Paddy Byrne ball inside to Shane Roche left the full-forward with a clearcut goalscoring chance, but 'keeper John Flynn got down superbly to knock the ball away for a fruitless '45. In the lead-up to the break a Seánie Furlong pointed free left the Garden county leading by 0-7 to 0-4 at the interval.

During the opening second-half exchanges, Frank Clune and Shane Roche exchanged pointed frees, before a Ben Brosnan pointed free reduced the deficit to two points (0-8 to 0-6). It says so much for Wicklow that they were managing to stay in front. Joey Kelly pushed them into a 0-9 to 0-7 lead before two Shane Roche points, one from a free, had the sides level on 0-9 each after 49 minutes.

As Wexford battled to try to take the lead, one had to admire the battling qualities of Wicklow who forced their way back into the breeze for Austin O'malley to kick a lead point. Redmond Barry, on as substitute, kicked a neat leveling point with ten minutes remaining but they were still unable to shake off the visitors, as midfielder James Stafford got himself forward into an attacking situation to point his side back in front six minutes from the end.

Almost immediately Wicklow substitute Tony Hannon saw his point attempt rebound back off the upright. Had it gone over, it would have given his side a two-point cushion, but instead it inspired the home side who pushed forward in numbers, allowing Paddy Byrne to level the sides (0-11 each), two minutes from the end. Then came the late Wicklow let-off which ensured extra-time.

Despite this being a stamina-sapping exercise, both sides continued to trot out solid performances in extra-time. Paddy Byrne and Austin O'malley exchanged points, as did Seánie Furlong and Shane Roche (free) to leave the sides still level (0-13 each) seven minutes into the first period.

After Nicky Mernagh had pointed Wicklow back in front, he went from hero to villain when he was sentoff on a second yellow card offence one minute from the break, a harsh decision. Approaching the break a Redmond Barry point saw the sides still level (0-14 each).

In the second period of extra-time, substitute Leighton Glynn and Brian Malone exchanged points, before Paudie Kelly beat the ' keeper to a long ball which rebounded off his legs to the net, leaving the home side leading by 1-15 to 0-15 with six minutes remaining.

Points from Leighton Glynn and Tony Hannon frees left the minimum separating the sides entering the closing minute when Wexford were reduced to 14, with Niall Murphy being sent-off on a straight red.

Wexford had eventually got in front and they succeeded in protecting that narrow lead through the final minute as Wicklow were unable to fashion a draw, which perhaps would have been a fitting result.

WEXFORD

Lee Chin for Doyle, Redmond Barry for O'grady, Paudie Kelly for Bradley, David Murphy for Flynn, Andrew Shore for Quinlivan, Ciarán Lyng for Roche.

WICKLOW

- BRENDAN FURLONG In St. Patrick's Park