Wicklow 5-10
Louth 2-13

Wicklow captured the plate of this year's Gerry Reilly FT by defeating Louth on Saturday in Oldcastle.

They were coasting to victory against 14 man Louth, but having led by nine points at the break, they had to withstand a great Louth fight back in the last ten minutes.

Wicklow's Cormac O'Shea opened the scoring with a fine point but Louth responded with two quick points from Liam Scales and Adam McHugh.

Conor Byrne finished off a fantastic move to the net for Wicklow from a ball broken down by Liam Scales from a pass from Luke Daly.

A second goal by Wicklow's Cathal Kelleher was made by Liam Scales and Conor Byrne really set them up in the fifteenth minute.

In the 18th minute Louth Cian Commins got Louth's first goal, which put them right back in it.

Crucially in the 22nd minute Louth were down to 14 men when Stephen McCooey was sent off.

Immediately Wicklow were able to build on the extra man and went in a half time leading by nine points - Wicklow 4-5 Louth 1-5

There was little between the sides trading scores in the second half until Louth had four unanswered scores, including a goal by Cian Commins in the 55th minute to reduce the gap to just 3 points between the sides. Louth were pressing for the equaliser when Wicklow broke away for a crucial goal by Conor Byrne to relieve the pressure. Conor Byrne also pointed for the last score of the game.

Overall a terrific game of football played at a very fast pace.

Caffrey's Millbrook Food Market - Man of the Match: Wicklow's Cathal Kelleher

After the game Wicklow's Captain Jack Cotter accepted the Plate Trophy from Leo Halpin (Oldcastle GFC)

Wicklow: Mark Jackson Baltinglass; Aaron Curren Kilbride; Saoirse Kearon Avondale; Tom Maher AGB; Jack Cotter Blessington; Jack McCall Barndarrig; Adam Boland Blessington (0-1); Cal Kelly AGB (1-0); Robert Kelly Hollywood; Luke Daly Baltinglass (0-2 2f); Cathal Kelleher AGB (1-2); Liam Scales Barndarrig; Conor Byrne Avondale (2-2); Cormac O Shea AGB (0-2); Adam McHugh Baltinglass (1-0)

Subs/Panel: Kyle O Connor AGB, Jack Bellamy Kilcoole, Jack Darcy AGB (0-1); Eoin McTague Eire Og; David Cushe Stratford/Grangecon; Thomas Kearns Ashford; Ross McBride AGB; Eoin Forsyth Derry Gaels; Tom Hurley AGB; Alfie Breslin Ballinacor; Jack Timmons Baltinglass; Jack Mockler An Tochar; Darragh Fitzgearld AGB; Andrew Reynolds Bray

Louth: Sean Hayes Cooley Kickhams; David Cluskey Stabannon Parnells; Conor Morgan Dundalk Gaels;Jonathon Culleton St Brides; Aaron Khan St Kevins; Brendan Matthews St Marys; Danny O'Brien St Josephs; Dion Conlon Glyde Rangers (0-1); Evan Keenan St Marys; Michael CarronCooley Kickhams; Emmet Hughes Roche Emmets; Sean Marry St Brides (0-4); Killian Kampes Kilkerley Emmets; Steven McCooey St Mochtas; Cian Commins St Marys (2-3).

Subs: Ronan Levins Newtown Blues for Cluskey; Cathal Grogan St Patricks for O'Brien; Ciaran Carter Dundalk Gaels (0-2) for Conlon; Thomas Mc Guinness Cooley Kickhams Carron; Enda McKenna Naomh Martin for Khan; Cian Callan St Kevins (0-3) for Kampes; Jack McGailey Dowdallshill for Cullerton

Ref: Gerry Skelly (Meath) Tweet

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