Wicklow simply can’t afford to find themselves 8 or 10 points in arrears like in the Antrim and Offaly games. A game between teams who’ll be in Div 2 and 4 next season and could be ranked as 15th v 27th based on the league from the spring but the gap is smaller than that would suggest. Yes Down beat Donegal but Wicklow should’ve beaten an admittedly Dean Rock managed Dublin too. Down weren’t overly impressive when I saw them against Wexford or Fermanagh. Malachy Stone will have his hands full with that shaper Pat Havern. A big test of Dean Healy’s veteran legs going toe to toe with Guinness in midfield too. In Eoin Darcy, Kevin Quinn and Oisin McGraynor Wicklow have forwards to cause them problems and they’ll be ravenous for success as a county having only ever won a Tommy Murphy Cup in 2007 when it was restricted to Div 4 teams. But you’d fancy Conor Laverty to outwit Oisin McConville with a better hand to boot.
I can confirm the vibe in Wicklow is at proper giddy levels. The car flags and bonnet/wing mirror covers are out in serious force. I’d say those car flag companies are after shifting stock this week they thought they’d never be rid of.
Shur’ there was a huge surplus of merch when Tipp exited the championship. Fortunately for providers of this ‘hats, dolls or colours’ Wicklow got on a run and HeyHo! the whole frigging load of it got sold.
The one time they didn’t hand it back O’ Toole got pinged and the Down keeper landed a two pointer. Mark Jackson is having an off day on the kicks ala the Dublin game when he left 4 kickable two pointers behind him.
In fairness he’s usually accurate and had NFL trials. I don’t think they have anyone with anywhere near the same boot. But he’s completely lost the head. The Down keeper Burns is having a brilliant day on them by comparison.