First win for Oisin McConville as Wicklow overcome London

Wicklow bounced back convincingly from their disappointing defeat to Sligo in round two with a comfortable 1-16 to 1-9 win over visiting London in Aughrim.

It's the first win of the campaign for Oisin McConville’s side and should give the Garden County men a boost ahead of their visit to Laois next Saturday night, while Michael Maher’s men will hope that home advantage for the clash with Sligo in McGovern Park will help them get off the mark.

Holding London to just one point when their full-back Paul McLoughlin was in the sinbin early in the second half was a key factor in this win for Wicklow, who proceeded to put the game out of sight when they returned to a full 15, the impressive Jacques McCall replacing the Blessington man and Paddy O’Keane looking very at home in the number three position.

But the real secret to the victory was the performance of Dean Healy at midfield, the St Patrick’s clubman grabbing two points and having a hand in everything positive for the Wicklow team on a grey, drizzly afternoon. Healy was assisted superbly by Podge O’Toole, Andy Maher and Karl Furlong.

A slowness in transition by McConville’s men early on was soon sorted and they led by 1-1 to 0-2 after 18 minutes thanks to a sweet goal from the well marshalled Kevin Quinn; London’s points coming from Joseph McGill (one free) with the visitors registering three early wides.

Wicklow led by 1-6 to 0-6 at the break and retired with a degree of confidence knowing that they had the strong breeze in the second half.

Despite an early burst with two points, from Kevin Quinn (free) and Eoin D’Arcy, that confidence faded slightly when McLoughlin, who had been enjoying a great battle with Gallagher on the edge of the square, was shown a black card by