Wicklow's league form holds as they dispatch Carlow in Aughrim

National League form held good in Aughrim where Wicklow got the better of neighbours Carlow to progress to a Leinster SFC quarter-final clash with Kildare.

Oisin McConville's side, who contested the Division 4 final and finished five points above Carlow in the league table, dominated the second-half for their first Championship win over the Barrowsiders since 2010.

Wicklow didn't move ahead in the game until first-half stoppage time when Malachy Stone netted and the hosts remained in pole position from there on, streaking to an eventual eight-point win.

Eoin Darcy struck Wicklow's second goal in the 69th minute - bringing his tally to 1-02 for the afternoon - booting into an empty net and punishing Carlow goalkeeper Ciaran Cunningham who was caught up the field.

In truth, it wasn't a Wicklow performance that will overly concern the watching Kildare manager Glenn Ryan ahead of their April 23 encounter.

Carlow were particularly poor and fell away badly after a bright opening 20 minutes or so. They will head now to the Tailteann Cup which begins in mid-May.

Fatigue was the obvious concern for Wicklow just eight days after coming up short of Sligo at Croke Park in the Allianz League Division 4 final.

Boss McConville made a series of alterations to his starting lineup, drafting in Paul McLoughlin, Karl Furlong, Aaron Murphy and Zach Cullen with Jacques McCall, Tom Maher, Darragh Fitzgerald and Andy Maher making way.

Aside from potential heavy legs, Wicklow were also playing into the stiff crosswind initially while Carlow set up with Ciaran Moran, who wore number 11, as their sweeper in front of the full-back line.

Wicklow found the going difficult to begin with and slipped three points behind approaching the quarter-hour mark as