GALEIC GAMES: WICKLOW - 0-6  LOUTH - 2-8:Fourteen-man Wicklow came from behind to defeat Louth in a terrific second half of their O'Byrne Cup semi-final in the Gaelic Grounds, Drogheda, yesterday.

The home side led 2-7 to 0-11 when Wicklow midfielder Shane O'Neill was sent off for a second bookable offence for a high tackle on Colin Quinn after 56 minutes. In the previous six minutes, the home side netted twice through veteran full forward Colin Kelly. The first goal came following a quickly taken free by Keith Lynch, while Kelly scored his second after his initial shot was saved by goalkeeper Robert Hollingsworth. However, the rebound fell straight to Kelly who found an open goal before him.

Despite losing O'Neill, Wicklow quickly regained the lead through unanswered points for Thomas Burke, Brendan Ohannaidh, Anthony Nolan and Paddy Dalton.

J P Rooney brought Louth back to within a point, but substitute Oisin Ohannaidh had the final say for Wicklow. John O'Leary's charges led at the break 0-5 to 0-4, but wasted several scoring chances in that period with a first-half wide tally of seven. Louth missed three clearcut goal chances in the first half with J P Rooney smashing a shot off the crossbar within seconds of the start.

Within seven mins of the start of the second half Wicklow had increased their lead to 0-10 to 0-4 with points from Burke, Dalton, Adrian Foley, O'Neill and Burke again. Despite Louth's purple patch midway through the second half, Wicklow deserved their victory and now meet Carlow in a novel O'Byrne Cup final pairing.

LOUTH: C Nally, A Page, D Shevlin, D Brennan, S Gerrard, C Quinn, J Neary, S O'Hanlon, M Farrelly, O McDonnell (0-1), K Lynch, M Stanfield (0-3, 2frees), D Reilly (0-2), C Kelly (2-1), J P Rooney (0-1). Subs: P McGinnity for Gerrard (40 mins); C O'Hanlon for J P Rooney (68 mins).

Referee: J Smith (Co Meath).

Wicklow ... 0-16

Louth ... 2-8