LOUTH took instant revenge on Wicklow to open their AllIreland account with a narrow victory in a thrilling encounter in Stabannon on Sunday afternoon.

Just seven days after falling to the Garden County in the Leinster Final, the Wee County girls turned the tables with a four-goal first-half blitz, but were left hanging on in the closing stages as their visitors refused to go down without a fight.

The game started at a cracking pace with Lucy Mulhall opening Wicklow's account after just 35 seconds and the superb Caoimhe Breen was forced into the first of many fine saves soon afterwards to deny Caoilfhionn Deeney.

Roseanna Heaney got Louth off the mark in the fifth minute and while Sinead Boland put Wicklow back in front momentarily, Catherine Page gave Louth the lead for the first time, latching onto an Annmarie Murphy pass and driving a shot past Emer Miley that proved too hot for the young 'keeper to handle.

Wicklow responded well with three points on the bounce from Boland and two Deeney frees to level matters at 1-1 to 0-4.

A critical spell of play then saw Breen pull off another superb save, while at the other end Louth bagged their second major of the afternoon. Annmarie Murphy was the provider again, teeing up Laura O'Neill for another fine finish.

Wicklow replied with a point, but another superb Louth move involving Murphy and O'Neill set Maria Reid free on goal and the Collon attacker made no mistake with her finish to make it 3-1 to 0-6 in the 21st minute.

Wicklow didn't panic however, and struck five points with just one in reply from Grace Lynch to tie proceedings up again as half-time approached.

There was still time for one last twist, however, as Murphy set Page free again for a carbon copy of the first goal, although this time Page gave 'keeper Miley no chance with a cool finish to make it 4-2 to 0-11 at the break.

The goals might have dried up in the second period, but Louth had strong claims for a penalty waved away by the referee early on.

Mulhall had reduced Wicklow's arrears at that stage and although Susan Byrne and Boland traded points, the gap was soon down to the minimum thanks to another Mulhall free.

The Garden girls then hit the front as Jackie Kinch and Deeney punished a couple of Louth misses at the opposite end.

Louth must have been thinking 'not again', but they dug deep to level matters with a point from the impressive former Dublin attacker, Murphy.

Byrne put the Reds back in front from a free as the excitement reached fever pitch and Wicklow missed a couple of excellent chances before a surging run from team captain, Grace Lynch drew a foul, allowing the ever reliable Byrne to give her side a twopoint cushion, 4-6 to 0-16.

Boland did pull back a point in the dying seconds but Louth clung on for a memorable victory. LOUTH: Caoimhe Breen; Annmarie Lynch, Sandra Lynch, Aine McGee; Patricia Marmion, Grace Lynch 0-1, Siobhan McDonald; Grace Rogers, Roseanna Heaney 0-1; Susan Byrne 0-3 (0-2f), Kate Flood, Catherine Page 2-0; Maria Reid 1-0, Annmarie Murphy 0-1, Laura O'Neill 1-0. Subs: Grainne Mackin, Amy Devlin, Katie Rafferty, Rachel Renaghan.