AS Wicklow continue on their championship odyssey and prepare to face Carlow in the second phase on Sunday week, they will know that they have a right good game under their belts.

Longford proved to be a team possessing heart warming courage, garnished with football skills and enriched by the talents of veteran Dessie Barry and Niall Sheridan. It seemed a shame for them to be denied another chance, at least, in a pulsating Leinster senior football championship first round tie enjoyed by 8,000 at Pearse Park yesterday.

After watching such a valiant display by his team, Longford manager Eamonn Coleman asserted: "This time next year web will take some beating. Remember our boat is only six months launched."

Barry, a thorny problem for the Wicklow defence throughout, scored all but five points of the Longford tally, four points of his commendable 2-5 coming from frees.

Wicklow manager Dave Foran can feel pleased with the manner in which his team held out. Goalkeeper Ken Quirke reacted superbly to the Longford onslaught in the closing stages and made a marvellous save from substitute Trevor Smullen.

Seventeen minutes into the second half Wicklow's industrious wing forward, Keith Byrne took a pass from wing back Mick McDonald before careering through for their second goal. Fergus Mulligan had scored Wicklow's first goal early in the second half to put them in the lead.

The second goal gave Wicklow, who had been 1-4 to 0-5 down at half time, a five point lead. There seemed to be no hope for Longford at this stage. A minute after Byrne's goal Raymond Danne stormed through a demoralised Longford defence only for his shot to be somehow blocked by Brian Green, and Jonathon Behan's follow up point made the outcome seem inevitable.

With their team now six points down with 14 minutes remaining, the Longford defence was rapidly becoming unsettled. In contrast to their composed first half display, they began to clear hurriedly and with a degree of desperation. In addition, Wicklow's giant midfielder Fergus Daly was showing no signs of fading.

Subsequent events, however, saw the young Longford side, so eager to impress in front of its home fans, in a truer light. Enda Barden, now partnered in nridfield by substitute Gerry Lynn, and other key players began to realise that getting the ball to the attack early was a useful gambit.

Wicklow's Alan Jenkinson, a late call up for the injured Hugh Kenny at full back, was often found wanting against the powerful Sheridan, whose ability to place his colleagues with the quick flicked pass was matched by his masterly ability in the air.

The Longford fightback was sparked off by a Dessie Barry, goal. With almost eight minutes's left, Barry coolly pointed a free that left only two points between, "the sides.

Wick low had lost composure Raymond Danne had been called ashore and Conan Daye had lost's his touch with the placed ball.

Only poor finishing seemed to be denying Longford a place in the next round, and Wicklow goalkeeper Quirke had to be brave to come off his line to deal with a threatening lob from Brendan Donoghue. The final whistle must have been sweet music for Wicklow followers.

It's what we failed to do after we took the six point lead that worries me," said Foran. His team kicked 14 wides in all, against 10 for Longford who, however, were the more unfortunate with attempts to score goals.

"It was a case of our old failing in not driving the six inch nail into the coffin, thinking we had done enough," said the relieved Wicklow manager.