FOLLOWING A disastrous season in 2009, Wicklow's hurlers have made a promising start to the New Year. They were pipped by Roscommon by a point in their opening match two weeks ago, while on Sunday last they were full value for their thirteen points win over Longford in their Kehoe Cup shield semi-final at Arklow.

Longford would not be rated in the same hurling class as Wicklow but yet it was the spirit and attitude of the players, allied to their hurling skills, that made this comprehensive victory so promising for the future.

Even though some players underachieved, every member of the team wanted to perform and impress and, with a huge subs bench and other players still to join the panel, there should be healthy competition for places on the starting fifteen going forward.

From start to finish Longford never showed the white feather of surrender but nevertheless Wicklow always had that bit more fuel in the tank and they always had the ability to respond immediately to whatever the midlanders threw at them.

Jonathan O'Neill was given an attacking role in this game as Wicklow's centre-forward and he seemed to relish this new challenge as he embellished his display with an impressive total of 1-9, making him top scorer for the home side.

His midfield place went to John Connors and he staked his claim to the number-nine shirt with a strong performance and two smashing points. His midfield partner MA O'Neill seems to be getting younger by the year and showed he has lost none of his enthusiasm for playing at the highest level.

Back in his usual wing-back position Geoffrey Bermingham played a stormer and Billy Cuddihy anchored the defence at centre-back, while up front Chris Kavanagh has to be pleased with his corner-forward display, scoring 1-4 over the 70 minutes.

And there was lot more to savour from the wholehearted efforts of the Wicklow players, not least the imprint left on the match by TJ Hennessy when he was sprung from the bench in the second half and scored two splendid points.

Jonathan O'Neill, with his accuracy from play and frees restored, got Wicklow off the mark in the first minute with a point from a free, but inside the next three minutes they were rocked back on their heels by Longford who took a surprise lead with answering points from full-forward John Newman and corner-forward Joe O'Brien, one of a number of the hurlers of quality in the midland's side.

Throughout the game Wicklow had the extra power and hurling skills to strike back whenever Longford posed a threat to their dominance.

On six minutes Jonathon O'Neill whipped the sliothar to the net from close range after being teed up by Chris Kavanagh and Wicklow on the road to eventual victory after that.

Further points by Chris Kavanagh, O'Neill and midfielder John Connors stretched Wicklow's lead to 1-4 to 0-2 after eight minutes.

Despite the uphill battle, Longford showed plenty of spunk and fight in their game. Joe O'Brien, their top scorer, converted a free into a point and we had a fine brace from winger Garrett McGee to narrow the tap to 1-4 to 0-5 before the end of the first quarter.

Eoin O'Neill replaced the injured Graham Keogh and slotted into fullback as if born to the position.

Wicklow got motoring in the second quarter and points by Jonathan O'Neill, MA O'Neill and John Connors and a goal by Chris Kavanagh opened up a commanding 2-10 to 07 lead by half-time.

But that lead was pared to seven points inside eight minutes of the restart as Joe O'Brien seized the opening to blast to the net from close range after Seánie Stakelum brought yet another good save from Wicklow's keeper Ted Kennedy with his testing shot.

Jonathan O'Neill swung over a great point from a sideline ball on 45 minutes and Thomas Doyle added another a minute later. At the other end Joe O'Brien kept Longford hearts up with a point, but Wicklow kept forging ahead as Ray Nolan also got his name on the scoresheet. The winners led by 2-18 to 1-9 after 55 minutes.

Eoin Donnellan rocketed to the Wicklow net from free on 63 minutes to narrow the gap slightly to 220 to 2-9.

Wicklow struck back for an answering goal from star wing-back Geoffrey Bermingham almost immediately and that really summed up the story of this match.

Longford may not have been world beaters in hurling but nevertheless this was a useful workout for Wicklow, holding promise for a better future for the hurlers than they enjoyed in 2009.

In the final of the Kehoe Cup shield, Wicklow will meet either Armagh or Fingal, who meet during the week in the other semi-final.