Wicklow step on the gas to sweep Leitrim aside in Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final

Wicklow marched through to the Tailteann Cup quarter-final following a comprehensive seven-point victory over a limited Leitrim in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park in Longford on Saturday evening.

In front of a small crowd and in stunning sunshine, Oisin McConville's charges produced a very impressive showing in the second half to overturn a 1-07 to 1-04 deficit at half-time and secure their place in the last eight of the competition.

Key to the victory for the Garden County was the performance of midfielder Dean Healy who asked relentless and unanswerable questions of the Leitrim defence with his hole-punching runs from the first minute to the last and the St Patrick’s man kicking four class points in the process.

Leitrim looked like they were in a good position when midfielder Barry McNulty lashed home past Mark Jackson for the game’s opening goal after 29 minutes to put them 1-06 to 0-04 ahead but when JP Nolan’s handpass across the square ended up in Nevin O’Donnell’s net two minutes later, Wicklow had a massive score considering they would have the benefit of a strong breeze in the second half.

The Garden County tore into Andy Moran’s Leitrim from the moment the second half started, Dean Healy firing over before Kevin Quinn added three points on the trot (one free) and Chris O’Brien flicked home a huge goal with nine on the clock to make it 2-08 to 1-08.

Leitrim were stunned and they made four substitutions in six minutes to try and stem the tide, but there was no stopping this Wicklow side with the wind at their backs and players such as Eoin Murtagh, Podge O’Toole, Healy and Jack Kirwan to name just a few giving massive performances.

"And look who it is... it’s that flippin Dean Healy again," was a line from the live