A GREAT start to the year for the Wicklow hurlers under new management. It may be only the Shield; it may have been too close for comfort, even a shade lucky but no one is complaining.

Certainly no-one in Carnew or the Collins family. Last year 'Wee' Willie captained Carnew for the first time and brought home the O'Donohue Cup. Now he has the honour of taking a trophy in his first year as captain of the Wicklow team.

A goal from a 25 metre free with less than a minute to go saved the day for Wicklow and gave new trainer Casey O'Brien his first trophy for the sideboard and not for the first time it was great veteran Jonathan O'Neill that blasted the sliotar through a crowded goalmouth for the winner

Jonathan O'Neill, the father figure of the team, is well known for his cool head and his powerful striking but he has seldom faced up to a more nerve-wracking moment.

The game was in the second minute of injury-time with two points between the sides and the Glenealy man knew that there was not many seconds left. A goal, and nothing less would give Wicklow a victory over Armagh and the Kehoe Shield would be theirs for the first time. He went for it, got it, and he was right, the ref did not allow enough time for either side to mount another meaningful attack.

For a long time in this match it looked as if ace free-taker Paul Breen would bring victory to the Ulster men, his 13 points, all from frees kept Armagh in front for most of the 70 minutes.

Armagh led by 0-4 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter. A late goal by impressive midfielder Cathal McCormac sent them in leading by 1-8 to 0-7 at half-time.

Jonathan O'Neill got Wicklow's first point from a line ball but at that stage it was Armagh that was setting the pace. Corner-forward Paul Breen posted an early warning that fouling by the Wicklow defence would prove costly as he sent over three points from frees. As the game entered the second quarter 'Bosco' found his touch and sent over three frees in a row to level the game for a second time. Points by John Connors and Andy O'Brien gave Wicklow the lead, but it was shortlived.

The last five minutes of the half proved disastrous for Wicklow as the Ulster men hit a purple patch to score 1-4 without any reply from Wicklow. to leave the half-time score Armagh 1-8, Wicklow 0-7.

Andy O'Brien gave Wicklow the tonic they needed when he had the ball in the Armagh net within minutes of the restart. Armagh midfielder Cathal Carvill, who had scored their goal tacked on another Armagh point and it was clear that they were hell bent on victory.

Joe Murphy stormed into the game and scored three points in a row but all the time Paul Breen was tapping over the points at he other end.

In fact the corner-forward was Armagh's only scorer in the last 30 minutes, tapping over eight points, all from frees.

A second goal by Andy O'Brien in the 50th minute was the springboard for another rally. That score left only a point between the sides and two minutes later Joe Murphy levelled from a free before putting Wicklow ahead with a great point from play.

Breen leveled the game once more and with five minutes still to go it was still all to play for.

Two more fouls by the Wicklow backs; two more points for Breen and it looked all over.

Never say die until 'Bosco' is dead – and there was one more kick in the old dog – and that was enough

Springing Joe Murphy from the bench just before half-time proved a master move by new Wicklow manager Casey O'Brien.

The Carnew veteran scored five good points and did much to provide the openings for two goals by corner-forward Andy O'Brien in the second-half.

It was a Murphy point in the 55th minute that brought Wicklow level in the match but two points from Breen as the game ticked into injury-time put Armagh back in the driving seat again

Not for the first time great veteran Jonathan 0' Neill crashed the ball to the Armagh net with less than 30 seconds to go to see the trophy staying on home soil.

New Captain Willie Collins of Carnew was presented with the Shield. Geoffrey Bermingham, Collins and Eoin O'Neill fronted a super sound Ted Kennedy in goal.

Jonathan O'Neill, sub Joe Murphy and Andy O'Brien were the danger men up front.

- PETER KEOGH At Arklow