Wicklow 0-23
Down 1-18

Wicklow have been promoted to Division 2A of the Allianz Hurling League for 2015 after holding on for a deserved victory over Down at Pairc Tailteann.

Casey O'Brien's charges came into the final as underdogs after losing to the Christy Ring champions in the divisional campaign, but they turned the tables with an impressive display which saw them lead from start to finish. Both teams finished the game with 14 players after Fintan O'Neill (Down) and Christy Moorehouse (Wicklow) received their marching orders in the 63rd and 73rd minutes respectively.

With Mikey Lee on song from frees, the Garden County stormed into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead inside eight minutes, but Down got back into it thanks to scores from Johnny McCusker, Conor Woods and Daniel Toner.

They had narrowed the gap to two before points from Lee, Moorehouse and Jonathan O'Neill gave the Gardenmen a three-point cushion, 0-12 to 0-9, at the break.

Wicklow extended their advantage to 0-16 to 0-10 on the restart thanks to efforts from Wayne O'Gorman, Andy O'Brien and Moorehouse before Down substitute Scott Nicholson's 43rd minute goal left the minimum in it, 1-12 to 0-16.

But the winners were able to respond again with scores from Andy O'Brien, O'Gorman and Lee. A McCusker free left it a one-point game again before Lee sent over the insurance score from a long-range free.

Wicklow - T Kennedy; E Dunne, S Kelly, B Cuddihy; G Byrne, L Kennedy, S Byrne; J Henderson, R Keddy; C Moorehouse (0-2), D Staunton (0-3), J O'Neill (0-1); M Lee (0-10, 8f), W O'Gorman (0-4), A O'Brien (0-3). Subs: J Bermingham for B Cuddihy, TJ Hennessy for R Keddy.

Down - S Keith; M Conlan, P Flynn, M Hughes; B Nicholson, C Woods (0-4, 2f, 1'65), P Hughes; S Ennis (0-1), F Conway; S Dineen, C O'Neill (0-2), D Hughes; C O'Prey (0-2), D Toner (0-2), J McCusker (0-6f). Subs: R Brannigan for P Hughes, S Nicholson (1-1) for S Dineen, M Turley for C O'Neill, P Sheehan for C O'Prey, E Clarke for M Hughes.

Referee - J Keane. Tweet

Most Read Stories