Wicklow pulled off a remarkable second-half comeback to defeat Down by 1-21 to 2-16 at Croke Park this afternoon to claim their first Tailteann Cup.

A disaster first-half saw Oisin McConville’s side trailing by 2-10 to 0-4 come the break, with Shane Annett’s point putting 13 between the sides in the opening minute of the restart before the two-pointers of Eoin Darcy, Christopher O’Brien and Oisin McGraynor gave the Leinster side life and Dean Healy’s terrific 56th minute goal would help pave their path to the title.

Hot favourites coming into this decider, Down hit the first four scores unanswered, including a Miceal Rooney two-pointer, and ‘keeper Ronan Burns (free) would add another from beyond the arc after McGraynor’s free had opened the Garden men’s account on 12 minutes.

Patrick Havern had the ball in the back of Wicklow’s net four minutes later and another Burns (free) made it 1-9 to 0-1.

Kevin Quinn, Darcy and ‘keeper Mark Jackson (free) pulled back sorely needed scores for McConville’s charges before half-time, but John McGeough’s goal would wipe them out as a dozen points stood between the teams when they went in.

The second-half would be a different story though, with Wicklow outscoring their Ulster counterparts by 0-10 to 0-2 in the first 15 minutes of it as Darcy, McGraynor and Quinn led the comeback.

McGraynor’s two-pointer made it 2-13 to 0-16 prior to points by Havern (free) and Rooney being wiped out by captain Healy’s coolly taken individual goal.

Ruairi McCormack’s point on the hour mark put the Mourne County two in front, but marksman Jackson nailed a two-point free two minutes later to bring Wicklow level and they’d be ahead for the first time in this decider when Darcy tacked on another free.

Conor Laverty’s side looked for an equaliser but couldn’t find one, as Quinn sent over the last score of the afternoon to draw a mighty roar from the Wicklow contingent who will be watching their team play in the All-Ireland senior football championship next summer.

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