Wicklow - 3-6 Kildare - 0-9Former Wicklow All Star Kevin O'Brien was inspirational for the county's junior footballers as they defeated Kildare at Aughrim last night to win their first Leinster junior football title in 33 years.

Showing that he has not lost his skills, O'Brien was the tormentor-in-chief of the Kildare defence throughout the match as he rifled home a spectacular goal midway through the first half. After his initial effort was blocked by Frank Ryder, the Baltinglass man volleyed in an unstoppable shot into the right corner of Arron Smith's net.

O'Brien formed part of a goal-hungry full-forward line for Wicklow with Stephen Byrne and Wayne O'Gorman also finding the net as the home side raced into a 3-3 to 0-6 lead at the break.

In the opening 20 minutes of the second half O'Brien again settled Wicklow with their first point after they had earlier struck six wides.

Kildare rallied in the final 10 minutes, applying almost relentless pressure on the Wicklow goal but they could not make the breakthrough as goalkeeper Ken Quirke produced two marvellous saves from Kildare wing forward Barry Moyles.

SCORERS: Wicklow: W O'Gorman 1-3; K O'Brien 1-2; S Byrne 1-1. Kildare: B Moyles, B Flood, S Boylan, D Behan 0-2 each, J Gilroy 0-1.

Referee: Tom Quigley (Wexford)