Wicklow 0-13 Kildare 0-09: Mick O'Dwyer worked his magic once more as his Wicklow side defeated Kildare 0-13 to 0-09 in the first round of the Leinster SFC to record their first ever Championship win at Croke Park.
This was supposed to be a stroll in the park for Kieran McGeeney's men as they took on lowly four division opposition. However, the only problem with this mismatch was working out who was first division and who was fourth division.
Wicklow were deserving winners as they showed greater spirit and team effort on the day.
Both sides traded points in the first period with Wicklow then opening up a three point lead before Ronan Sweeney scored the third three successive point for Kildare to leave both sides level 0-05 to 0-05 at the break.
O'Dwyer's team talk must have really been something for Wicklow came out with all guns blazing in the second period with Shaunie Furlong finding his range on a day when the likes of Anthony Rainbow and Leighton Glynn were ineffective, like most of the Kildare side.
Tony Hannon knocked over his third point of the second half, his fifth in all, to give Wicklow a 0-9 to 0-5 lead.
It took a full 10 minutes before Kildare recorded their first point of the half. However, their fortunes took a turn for the worse when under-21 captain Gary White was sent off just before the hour mark for punching Furlong.
Alan Smith tried to get the Lilywhites back into the match and almost found the net on 45 minutes, but his shot bounced on top of the crossbar for a point.
After Smith saw his shot saved by the Wicklow goalkeeper Mervin Travers, Furlong beat Kevin O'Neill at the other end of the pitch to arc over a great point to make it 0-10 to 0-6.
When Hannon made it 0-12 to 0-7 with just minutes on the clock, the big upset between the two neighbouring counties looked very much on the cards.
McGeeney's side desperately tried to find their range in the closing stages but there was no way through the resolute Wicklow defence.
Smith was surely Kildare's best player and despite an injury time point it was too little too late with Wicklow running out comfortable winners and O'Dwyer could hardly conceal his delight.
"I exceptionally happy, we've put a lot of work in and we deserved the win today," said O'Dwyer after the final whistle.
"We've been preparing since way back in October and today I think we played good, attractive football."
And with recent talk of retirement the manager was quick to respond. "You'll have to wait a long time for my retirement!"
Next up for Wicklow is O'Dwyer's former county Laois.
Earlier in the day London eased to a 10-point 2-13 to 1-06 win over Tyrone in the Ulster SHC at Omagh to set up a quarter-final clash with Armagh next weekend.