Leitrim just about deserved to beat Wicklow at Pairc Sean MhicDiarmada yesterday but the affair was not noted for its excitement.

Leitrim led 3-1 after 16 minutes following Dermot Reynolds opening point for the home side but in the 18th minute, Wicklow's Tommy Gill floated a 40-metre free goalwards and David Dillon rose unchallenged to fist to the net to restore parity. Although Leitrim matched them for scores, the remainder of the half was Wicklow's best spell and the visitors ended the half marginally ahead 1-4 to 0-6.

Tommy Gill extended the Wicklow lead on the resumption with a pointed free but the half time introduction of Ian McGreevy and Padraig McLoughlin to the Leitrim attack proved decisive. Between them, the two substitutes scored seven points to Wicklow's one in a 25-minute spell that gave the home side a four-point lead going into the final minutes.

Wicklow never stopped trying and the result remained in doubt until the outstanding McGreevy came to Leitrim's rescue and he stylishly finished the best move of the match to the Wicklow net two minutes from time before adding a further point from a free deep in injury time.

LEITRIM: G Phelan, J McKeon, A Charles, M McGuinness, N Gilbane, J Phelan (0-1), D Reynolds (0-1), S Canning, S Quinn (0-2), K Murray, M Duignan, D Maxwell, B Brennan, O Maguire (0-2, 1f), J Guckian. Subs: A McGourty for A Charles; P McLoughlin (0-2) for M Duignan; I McGreevy (1-6, 5f) for B Brennan; S Foley for J Phelan.

WICKLOW: R Hollingsworth, T Burke, C Hyland, C Davis, G Jameson, B O'Hannaith, B Flynn, G Duffy, D Dillon (1-0), B Mernagh, P Dalton (0-3, 2f), P Cronin (0-1), J Slattery, A Nolan (0-1), T Gill (0-2, 2f). Subs: B Sheehan for Duffy; J P Connolly for Cronin; B Canavan for J Slattery.

Referee: C Reynolds (Down).