Seconds through

at Ashtown Lane they were playing with a strong wind at their backs in the first half.

The hallmark of this team has always been grit and determination. They have pulled out many unexpected results over the last couple of seasons and when Ally Byrne went over in the corner for a well taken try the large crowd began to sense that once again the unlikely was possible. The conversion was missed but the home side led 8-6 after 45 minutes.

The game was evenly balanced with both sides giving as good as they got. Dundalk edged in front with a long-range penalty by their talented out half to put them back in front at 8-9 with fifteen minutes remaining.

With ten minutes left a piece of brilliance by Seamus O’Brien who produced a barnstorming run complete with a slick show and go to put Wicklow on the front foot.

The offload went to James Stafford who beat two defenders and powered over to score a great try. Stafford’s long time nemesis Gary Duffy added the conversion and Wicklow were back in front at 15-9.

The last ten minutes were dominated by Dundalk as they battered the Wicklow line but truth be told they never looked like scoring.

Ferocious Wicklow defence battered them back on several occasions.

Three times Wicklow turned the ball over or forced a penalty to allow them to clear their lines.

Eventually the long awaited final whistle went, much to the delight of the large crowd and the Wicklow players.

A very disappointed Dundalk side left Ashtown Lane while Wicklow move into the semi-final where they will take on South East neighbours Tullow at a date and time to be confirmed.

Squad: Timmy Donovan, Neill Dickenson, Stefan Nixon, David Quinn, James Stafford, Liam Hughes, Niall Higgins, Ronan Monahan, Stuart Donohoe, Darren Byrne, Shane Byrne, Alex Porter, Patrick Cullen, Brian Quinn, Gary Duffy, Russell Andrew, Ian Heffernan, Paddy Jameson, Shane Carroll, Killian O’Mahony, Ruairi Egan Barron.