Antrim; 0-13 Wicklow 1-8: The standard of play matched the dull, wet weather at Casement Park yesterday as Antrim deservedly scratched out a 0-13 to 1-8 win over Wicklow.

The main action was in the closing quarter with Wicklow being hit by two unfortunate incidents. On the hour their centre back, Colm Twomey, was sent off for a high challenge, having being earlier booked, and then with the teams level entering injury time, Anthony Nolan missed a golden goal opportunity.

Nolan was sent clear with the goal at his mercy but the advancing goalkeeper Sean McGreevy managed to turn the ball away.

Wicklow got their goal in the 18th minute when Jonathan Behan struck to leave the visitors 1-3 to 0-1 ahead. Within seconds the same player added a point but Wicklow didn't score again until the 47th minute, by which time Antrim had narrowed the gap to a point.

When Twomey was dismissed, Paddy Logan put Antrim ahead from the free-kick and it was Kevin Brady and Logan who snatched victory for Antrim with injury-time points after that miss by Nolan.

ANTRIM: S McGreevy; N Ward, M Mulholland, E McLarnon; G Adams, A Finnegan, S Kelly (0-1); M McCrory, G Flynn; P Logan (0-6, all frees), E McCann (0-1), K Doyle (0-1); K Madden, K Brady (0-1), P Close (0-1). Subs: P McCann (0-2) for Madden (25 mins); O Quinn for Doyle (32 mins); E McKee for E McCann (47); M McGarry for McCrory (66).

WICKLOW: R Hollingsworth; S Cush, G Jameson, T Burke; B Daly, C Twomey, A Mooney (0-1); B O hAnnaidh (0-1), F Daly; B Mernagh, S O'Neill, A Foley (0-1); J Behan (1-1), O O hAnnaidh, A Nolan (0-4, two frees). Subs: B Whelan for Cush (12); G Doran for O O hAnnaidh (half-time); C Davis for Mooney (63).

Referee: M Brady (Cavan).