1 MIN: Wicklow had first advantage of the wind but Down burst from the traps first and Brian McArdle gave them an early lead with the opening point.

2 MINS: Less than a minute later the huge crowd of home supporters were beginning to wonder was this the day the bubble was going to burst as Down's star midfielder Dan Gordon put the northerners two points up.

5 MINS: Darren Hayden linked up well with Leighton Glynn to set up the opening for a great point from Wicklow's captain.

6 MINS: Leighton Glynn was suffering from a virus all week, but it was Down in severe pain as he dispossessed their corner-back on the edge of the box and then volleyed to the corner of the net with a ground shot.

9 MINS: Daniel Hughes, Down's most dangerous forward, pulled a point back but Leighton Glynn responded immediately and Wicklow led by 1-2 to 0-3. Glynn was Wicklow's only marksmen at that stage.

13 MINS: Seánie Furlong received a jersey pull from down full-back Kevin McKernan as he moved into position to take a pass from Paudge McWalter. Furlong pointed the resultant free.

15 MINS: Paul McCumiskey may be just out of Minor ranks but he showed no lack of experience as he swung over a Down point from a ball from midfielder Stephen Kearney. Wicklow ahead 1-3 to 0-4.

16 MINS: Seánie Furlong again worked the oracle and Wicklow were a goal ahead - Leighton's goal that was to provide the vital cushion right to the end.

17 MINS: Tony Hannon's confidence with the frees was back on song for this match as he stretched the lead to four points.

18 MINS: Another good attacking move involving McWalter, JP Dalton and Leighton Glynn brought the foul on Seánie Furlong who again split the posts with the free. Wicklow five ahead, 1-6 to 0-4.

19 TO 26 MINS: Down struck back with defence splitting moves that brought points from wing-back Timmy Hanna, Don Hughes and Paul McCumiskey. Margin down to two, 1-6 to 0-7.

27 MINS: Tony Hannon landed a great point off his left and four minutes later punished Down again for a foul on Dean Odlum.

31 MINS: Daniel Hughes continued to find space and openings to keep the pressure on Wicklow. He pointed to leave it 1-8 to 0-8.

35 MINS: After Mervyn Travers had made a good save, Leighton Glynn and Thomas Walsh combined with JP Dalton and Dalton punched a point.

36 MINS: Ambrose Rogers closed out the first-half scoring with a Down point, but Wicklow retired for the break in the lead by 1-9 to 0-9.

Second-half

1 MIN: Desperate Down started ringing the changes from the start of the second half. Ronan Sexton heralded his introduction with a fine point. Wicklow's Mervyn Travers made another crucial save immediate afterwards.

3 MINS: Dean Odlum had very little wriggle room when hemmed out in the right corner but still he managed to land a magnificent point off his left boot. Leighton Glynn showed his leadership with another point, helped by good work by Jacko Dalton.

11 AND 15 MINS: Down were not for capitulating, however. Ambrose Rogers and Paul McCumiskey both harvested points from frees and the margin was down to 1-11 to 0-12.

16 MINS: Thankfully Tony Hannon's freetaking was from the top drawer for Wicklow and he kept Leighton Glynn's goal between the sides.

20 MINS: Down wing-back Conor Garvey swapped points with Seánie Furlong (free) in a three minutes spell.

21 MINS: Paul McCumiskey cut the margin to two points but Hannon replied from play four minutes later.

25 MINS: Tony Hannon exchanged points with Down's Ronan Murtagh and the score stood at 1-14 to 0-15.

27 MINS: Corner-back Ciarán McGovern cut the margin to a point and three minutes later the well-policed Bernard Coulter scored his solitary point to tie the match at 1-14 to 0-17.

35 MINS: Down pressed hard and Wicklow defended stoutly. Down were forced into errors and they kicked three wides, one from a scoreable free.

38 MINS: Wicklow broke free and James Stafford bore down on goal. He should have punched a safe point but went for the juggler. His shot for a goal was blocked out for a '45' by Down keeper Brendan McVeigh.

38 MINS: A hush descended over Aughrim as Tony Hannon stepped up to the kick. Hannon set his kick off to the right to allow for the wind and the crowd erupted as the ball banded and glided between the posts like a plane coming into land. Wicklow had chalked up another memorable victory, beating Down 1-15 to 0-17.