NEWS:THE WHEEL came full circle for Kevin O'Brien on Sunday. The Wicklow selector is his county's most famous footballer, an All-Ireland junior winner in 2002, and only All Star, a prize that rounded off a brilliant 1990 - a year in which his club, Baltinglass, won the All-Ireland and he starred for Ireland in an International Rules Series win.

In between he played on what until the weekend had been the last Wicklow team to defeat Kildare in the championship.

The years that followed promised a lot for Wicklow and delivered a thrilling draw and replay against Meath in 1991 and an All-Ireland B title a year later, but the following summer encapsulated all of the frustration at close-run, agonising defeats.

Kildare, managed by Mick O'Dwyer, were steeped to survive. "We've talked that out a few times," according to O'Brien.

"It was unbelievable. We went nine up and then they caught us but totally out of character we went four up after that! Then Martin Lynch took his 39 steps and got the goal."

Wicklow's first championship victory at Croke Park is qualified by the comparatively few matches the county has played there over the years but for Kevin O'Brien it was a sweet departure from the days of moral victories. He acknowledges there was little confidence in the team's prospects leading up to the clash with Division One opposition apart from within.

"The form at training was absolutely fantastic. No one had any faith in us outside of the camp. There were odds of 6 to 1 and 7 to 1 - crazy in a two-horse race. No one had any faith after the National League but the team are summer footballers and they love the hard ground.

"I'm thrilled for the team. They've worked extremely hard and Micko's really pushed them hard. I'm thrilled for him as well; he's a remarkable man. I would really love to have played for him."

The success comes as vindication for the fight spearheaded by the county to restore Division Four teams to the All-Ireland qualifiers although that won't happen until next year.

"If we were to beat Laois and play Meath or Wexford in the semi-final all of the teams would be in the qualifiers except us," he says.

"Then again I feel the run in the Murphy Cup last year and the three matches against Louth really stood to us."

Short of reaching the Leinster final it will be back to the Tommy Murphy Cup for Wicklow. O'Brien accepts that it would be a pity to lose the momentum of an encouraging championship run.

"You could draw anyone in the qualifiers but unfortunately that's the system we're in. But it's in our hands to get it sorted and we can't keep looking at the negative side."

It's been a lively year already in the county. The under-21s beat defending champions Laois and are under the charge of fellow senior selector Philip McGillycuddy. O'Brien takes charge of the juniors and former club and county team-mate Hugh Kenny is over the minors.

But Sunday has lit the fuse for interest in the seniors. O'Brien tries to describe what he sees as the difference between the current side and his own of previous decades and it's hard to get beyond the manager.

"There's been the professionalism of the team. The footballers have been living the life of footballers off the field. Then you take into account the Micko factor. He's been a total players' man. In Wicklow players didn't always come first but the most important thing with him is that he makes players believe and makes sure they've no other worries apart from playing football. He gets the best out of everybody.

"I spoke to a player in another county who'd played under him and asked what was he like. He said to me: 'Micko changed my life'.

"We went to Waterville (O'Dwyer's home club) to play in a pitch opening - Wicklow against South Kerry. He's an icon down there and the chair of the club was up at six in the morning on Sunday just to get up for our match."

At least the next one will be a bit nearer.