JIM HACKMAN has been described as something of a "miracle worker" in orchestrating Wicklow's march to the All Ireland County Championship finals at Donegal Golf Club, Murvagh, next Saturday.

Team manager Hackman provides a link with the only Wicklow team to win the national title (in 1981 when he was a player) and this season his giantkillers have raised eyebrows in various 19th hole establishments with their exploits.

Wicklow have no less than 11 players in the travelling party to the Murvagh links where they will face Roscommon in the semifinal, with championship favourites Cork - last year's beaten finalists - taking on Derry in the other semi final.

Hackman, along with his Greystones club mate Stephen Cahill, have unashamedly gone cap in hand to clubs in the county to prepare the side.

A confined Scratch Cup was instigated in the county some three years ago to unearth talent and with provincial glory now obtained, further financial assistance from clubs enabled the squad to undertake an advanced visit to Murvagh last weekend to play 27 practice holes in preparation for the national finals.

"We put Dublin out in a titanic match in our first round in Leinster, and things didn't get any easier after that we have shown great team spirit and I'm confident that if our team plays well, and up to potential, then we can continue to upset other teams," said Hackman.

Wicklow don't pack as many big guns' as other teams. John Groome was a Leinster interprovincial player last season and Pat Errity is in the squad this season, while Eddie Condren, whose son Kevin also represents the county, is the reigning Irish Seniors champion.

Former Irish internationals Ken Kearney and Liam MacNamara form the backbone of the Roscommon team who secured their passage to the finals last October.

Cork, however, will be favourites, despite having to undertake a 600 miles round-trip.

Meanwhile, Derry possess one of Irish golf's rising stars in 17 year old David Jones, who has represented Britain and Ireland boys.