Wicklow 2-25 Kilkenny 0-7:WICKLOW'S FOOTBALLERS finished their Division Four league campaign yesterday with a massive 24-points win over Kilkenny at Aughrim.

In hindsight, Wicklow are sure to rue the two defeats that cost them promotion, especially the loss to Clare in their opening match, a game which they led by seven points at one stage in the second half.

Mick O’Dwyer fielded a team with only three of his first 15 yesterday and instead used this game to try out some fringe players.

And he will be impressed in particular with the displays of Niall Mullett, Niall Gaffney and substitute Dean Siney in attack, and wing-back Steven Canavan, who scored three smashing points.

Full-forward Seanie Furlong was the chief marksman for Wicklow with 10 points, three from frees, but he was pressed hard for the honour of top scorer by Arklow’s Niall Mullett who landed six sweet scores.

Wicklow’s Niall Gaffney pointed in less than 30 seconds and from there on it was largely one-way traffic.

Wicklow had this game wrapped up by half time when they led by 1-16 to 0-2, the goal coming in added time from Dean Odlum. Kilkenny improved in the third quarter and Stephen Duggan accounted for five of their points.

Wicklow’s Furlong continued to stack up the points, while substitute Dean Siney put the icing on the huge win with his late goal.

WICKLOW: B Norman, W Dillon, A Byrne, P Hogan, R Finn (0-2), B McGrath, S Canavan (0-3), M English, S. Kavanagh, R Murphy, N Gaffney (0-1), P Byrne (0-1). D Odlum (1-2), S Furlong (0-10, three frees), N Mullett (0-6). Subs: J Flynn for B Norman, P Cunningham for W Dillon, E Kearns for D Odlum, D Siney (1-0) for R Murphy.

KILKENNY: JJ O’Sullivan, L Brennan, D Grennan, T Keogh, JJ Grace, S Kenny, C Foran, M Farrell, M Malone, S Duggan (0-5), P Raftice, M Saunders, JJ Brennan, J Culleton, E Verker. Subs: JJ Dunphy (0-1) for L Brennan, P Donnelly for M Saunders, J Sheehan for D Grennan, S Ryan (0-1) for JJ Brennan.

Referee: E O’Grady (Leitrim).