Savage Garden party as Jackson stars in thriller

WICKLOW claimed a major Championship win yesterday as they battled back to force extra time and then comfortably see off Offaly in the additional 20 minutes. They now move on to face Dublin in two weeks’ time with goalkeeper Mark Jackson (below) the hero, kicking seven points and saving a penalty in normal time. There was euphoria at the full-time whistle in Portlaoise as John Evans’ side put their League form to bed after finishing bottom of Division 4 last month. Offaly led 1-5 to 0-5 at half time with their goal coming from Anton Sullivan after 30 minutes. However, Wicklow roared back into life with Sean Furlong and Jackson nailing the frees before Nigel Dunne saw his penalty saved by Jackson on 58 minutes as tension mounted. With a minute to go, Shane Tierney looked to have put Offaly through before Jackson stood up and landed his fifth free from distance to level the game and force extra time with the sides level on 0-14 to 1-11. Wicklow got the better of the opening period of extra time with five points over the 10 minutes and the Garden County led by three – 0-19 to 1-13 at the break. The deal was sealed just two minutes into the final period of extra time when Darragh Fitzgerald coasted through the Offaly rearguard to find the net with a well placed shot. WICKLOW: M Jackson; C Hyland, J Snell, P Merrigan (E Murtagh 70m); J Crowe (C Healy 48m), D Healy, S Kearon; R Finn (D Boothman 73), J Stafford (C Magee 53); D Hayden (J Crowe 90), K Murphy, T Smyth (R Finn 84); S Furlong, J McGrath (D Fitzgerald 67), M Kenny. Wides: 10. Frees: 25. Yellow Cards: M Kenny (75), C Healy (89). Scorers: M Jackson 0-7 (5f, 2 45’s), S Furlong 0-5 (5f), D Fitzgerald 1-0, M Kenny, J McGrath 0-2, D Healy, J McGrath, J Crowe and C Magee 0-1. OFFALY: A Mulhall; N Darby, D Hogan, P McConway; D Dempsey, S Pender (G Spollen 40), C Donohue (A Cunningham 79); C Dunne, C Carroll (N Dunne 53); M Brazil (J Lalor 56), C McNamee (M Brazil 80), R McNamee (J Hayes 53); B Allen, N Dunne (S Tierney 28, S Doyle 80), A Sullivan. Wides: 15. Frees: 14. Yellow cards: C Dunne (10). A Sullivan (86). Black Card: P McConway 90. Scorers: A Sullivan 1-2 (1f), B Allen 0-3, S Tierney, A Mulhall (45’s), N Darby (2f) 0-2, C Donohoe, N Dunne (1f), J Hayes, G Spollen 0-1. Referee: J Henry (Mayo).