Wicklow hurlers head for crunch clash with Sligo after London defeat

The Garden County’s 2-20 to 0-14 defeat at the hands of London last Saturday afternoon was their third defeat in a row and sees them sitting above the Yeats side by virtue of the minimum score difference.

The Wicklow hurlers will take plenty of heart from this performance in Ruislip with the result, albeit looking like a fairly hefty defeat at 2-20 to 0-14, not really being reflective on what was a tigerish and committed display.

However, worryingly from a Wicklow point of view, the Sligo men produced a fine display against Tyrone last weekend, losing by only three points (2-17 to 2-14) in Markievicz Park with the Red Hands proving too strong for ‘Bosco’ O’Neill’s charges in Dungannon in the league.

On a positive note, London put 4-26 past Sligo in their game in this competition, 12 points less than they did against Wicklow, and home advantage should hopefully be a significant plus when the Yeats men come calling.

There is, obviously, another round of games after this game, with Wicklow making the trip to face Tyrone again, and Sligo welcoming Derry, but while it wouldn’t be outrageous to think that the Garden County could overturn the league result in Dungannon, the chances of Sligo toppling an in-form Derry who pushed Kildare all the way last weekend are very unlikely.

London manager Neil Rogers will be delighted with how his players – rapidly developing a reputation as a second-half team – stuck to the task against a Wicklow side which made a mockery of the fact that they are still without a victory in 2024.

Indeed, Jonathan O’Neill’s team can feel very hard done by at the final margin of their defeat. This was never a 12-point game.

Slim consultation no doubt, but with 10 minutes of normal time to go, the London lead was a precarious 1-13 to 0-13 and the outcome very much in the balance.

The Exiles duly outscored their opponents by 1-7 to 0-1 in the time that remained to maintain their place at the top of the table.

A Ronan Crowley’s goal, just 46 seconds into the second half, set up London’s victory after a hungry Wicklow had given the home side plenty to ponder in the opening quarter.

A more assured second quarter from the Exiles had seen them edge it at the break (0-8 to 0-7).

Crowley’s low shot to the far corner of Conor McNally’s net in the 36th minute made it a four-point lead.

But it wasn’t until Jack Goulding landed a 72nd minute free that Rogers’ men could finally breathe easy, as it took London’s lead to more than two goals (1-18 to 0-14).

Reid’s even later goal was the icing on the home team’s cake.

With first use of a handy breeze, Seanie Germaine landed two early frees for the visitors, who showed no scars from their 15-point battering at London’s hands in the league at Ruislip in February.

Sean Glynn replied with a super point on the run from underneath the McGovern Stand. Owen Shiel, who had a really fine game, levelled things up.

Germaine put the Garden County back in front, with London then enjoying a slice of luck when Pádraig Doran’s shot came back off the post, and Niall Geoghegan got to the rebound just ahead of Luke Evans.

Adam Cunney levelled things up, with Gary Hughes missing a good goal opportunity for Wicklow.

The home side were repeatedly falling foul of Tarlach Conway’s whistle and McNally (free) and Cian Lohan stretched the Wicklow lead to 0-5 to 0-3.

Wicklow were tigerish in the tackle, while the greater number of errors were coming from the home side. Shades of Sligo the previous week.

Despite a huge point from Pádraig Doran, the Exiles began to impose themselves in the final 15 minutes of the half.

Goulding landed three frees on the spin during a good spell for the home side, but they weren’t as clinical as they might have been.

When all was said and done, they’d hit 16 wides to Wicklow’s seven.

Shiel’s 29th minute point fired the home side into the lead for the first time (0-7 to 0-6).

Although the excellent David Maloney replied, Glynn had the final word to ensure London had their noses in front at the break (0-8 to 0-7).

Against Sligo, the Exiles had had to settle for a 0-9 a piece scoreline at half-time, only for Goulding to have the ball in the back of the Yeats men’s net within 17 seconds of the restart.

This time it was Crowley’s turn to raise the green flag early in the second half, only his major was 29 seconds slower than Goulding’s!

Straight from the throw in, Murphy set up Crowley to shoot wide. Unperturbed by that miss, Crowley then produced a great first touch from London’s next attack to leave his marker for dead, before finding the bottom far corner of McNally’s net.

That could, or maybe should, have been the catalyst for London to pull away. But Wicklow were having none of it and Germaine immediately responded with a free.

Millerick read McNally’s puck-out to point, while at the other end Conor Byrne produced one excellent catch under pressure in his own square.

Goulding utilised the breeze to bisect the posts from his own half, but Germaine’s frees kept Wicklow up close in London’s rear-view mirror (1-10 to 0-10).

When the excellent David Maloney pointed in the 50th minute the gap was just two points, and this game was still very much anyone’s.

Germaine forced a smart low save from Tommy Wallace, who while not called upon to make too many saves was assuredness personified in everything else he did.

Super play by Murphy set up Crowley, only for Torna Mulconry to make it 1-13 to 0-13 in the 60th minute.

It was then that’s Rogers’ side made their bid for the win.

Shiel and Reid pointed, and when McNally was penalised for a thrown ball, Goulding did the rest.

The home side finally had some breathing space (1-16 to 0-13).

Goulding and Redmond traded scores, but it was to Wicklow’s credit that the announcement of five added minutes was greeted with a slight concern by London supporters.

Goulding’s free in the second of those added minutes finally felt like the death nail for Wicklow.

Reid duly smashed home from close range following good work by Niall Broderick to cement London’s win - and add a rather unfair gloss to the final scoreline.

Broderick and the excellent Shiel closed things out.

All Wicklow eyes will not be on Echelon Park Aughrim on May 12 when ‘Bosco’ O’Neill sends his charges out to face visiting Sligo where a win would all but secure their Christy Ring status for another season ahead of their trip to face Tyrone.

London: Tommy Wallace; Padraig Muldoon, Conor Byrne, Niall Geoghegan; Tom Millerick (0-1), Sean O’Meara, Cathal O’Carroll; Adam Cunney (0-1), Robbie Murphy; Owen Sheil (0-6), Sean Glynn (0-2), Kevin Reid (1-1); Dylan Dawson, Jack Goulding (0-7, 6f), Ronan Crowley (1-1). Subs: Eoghan McHugh for Dawson (56), Paul Kennedy for Crowley (63), Niall Broderick (0-1) for Cunney (67), Stephen Whelan for Millerick (68), Malcolm Flannery for Reid (70+3).

Wicklow: Conor McNally 0-1f; Dylan Byrne, Brian Kearney, Ben Kearney; Tommy Collins, Pádraig Doran (0-1), Seanie Germaine (0-6, 5f); Cian Lohan (0-1), Brandan Ryan; Rian Waters, Ronan McMahon, Luke Maloney (0-1); Luke Evans, Gary Hughes, David Maloney (0-2). Subs: Eoin McCormack for McMahon (32), Dan Redmond (0-1) for Hughes (32), Torna Mulconry (0-1) for Waters (50), James McGing for Ryan (67), Jack O’Toole for Luke Maloney (68).

Referee: Tarlach Conway (Derry)