Down claimed an eight-point win when the teams met in the group stages at Ballycran in February, but the table-toppers didn't have it all their way in Navan this afternoon, as Wicklow claimed silverware.

Both sides finished with 14 men in this contest, with Down midfielder Fintan Conway sent off after an altercation with Jonathan O'Neill in the 64th minute.

Wicklow were reduced to 14 men deep in injury-time after a straight red card for Christy Moorehouse, after he lashed out on Down defender Brett Nicholson.

The Garden County began this game at a tremendous pace and had four points on the board inside three minutes, with Daniel Staunton on target after just 14 seconds, before a trio of Mikey Lee scores, helped Wicklow to a 0-4 to 0-0 lead.

Conor Woods opened Down's account with the first of his two opening half points, but Wicklow continued to hold command and led by 0-7 to 0-3 after 14 minutes.

Down cut the gap to two points on two occasions, with Woods, Connor O'Prey, Sean Ennis and Daniel Toner working hard.

But Lee was deadly accurate from placed balls, and helped secure a 0-10 to 0-6 lead after 22 minutes, following his sixth score.

Ennis and Conor O'Neill fired a trio of unanswered points to ensure a 0-10 to 0-9 score-line after 27 minutes, but unanswered points from Moorehouse and Lee handed Wicklow a three-point interval lead.

This lead was doubled inside 100 seconds of the restart, as Wicklow began brightly.

Wayne O'Gorman, Staunton and O'Brien were on target to ensure a 0-15 to 0-9 lead.

O'Prey opened Down's second-half account, before Moorehouse and Toner traded scores.

Toner's point came as Down fired an unanswered 1-2 in a two-minute spell.

McCusker fired his third point, before this was followed up by a well-struck goal from substitute Scott Nicholson.

The Ballycran clubman was only two minutes on the field, before getting on the end of a move which involved Donal Hughes and McCusker in the build-up.

That goal cut the gap to a point on a 0-16 to 1-12 score-line, but Wicklow claimed a three-point advantage with quick points from O'Brien and O'Gorman inside a minute.

Lee ensured a 0-19 to 1-12 lead, with his eighth point in the 47th minute, and although McCusker cut the gap once more, Wicklow continued to remain on top.

Jonathan O'Neill ensured all six starting forwards were on target as he added Wicklow's 20th point, before a third from Staunton opened up a five-point lead as the game entered the final quarter.

Down never gave up and claimed three of the next four points, with Woods and McCusker on target.

This left the gap at three points entering the closing nine minutes, but suddenly frustration kicked in for Down.

Conway was dismissed, after initially being shown a yellow card and a subsequent red by referee John Keane.

Down never threw in the towel, with Scott Nicholson and McCusker adding points to cut the gap to the minimum on the stroke of injury-time.

A 10th pointed free from Lee opened up a two-point margin, and although a further minute of injury-time was to follow, Down failed to utilise it.

Wicklow were dealt a blow late on with Moorehouse picking up a straight red card following a challenge on Brett Nicholson.

After the game Leinster GAA Chairman John Horan presented the cup to Wicklow captain Wayne O'Gorman.

WICKLOW: T Kennedy; E Dunne, S Kelly, B Cuddihy; G Byrne, L Kennedy, S Byrne; J Henderson, R Keddy; C Moorehouse (0-2), D Staunton (0-3), J O'Neill (0-1); M Lee (0-10, 8f), W O'Gorman (0-4), A O'Brien (0-3). Subs: J Bermingham for Cuddihy (50); TJ Hennessy for Keddy (71).

DOWN: S Keith; M Conlan, P Flynn, M Hughes; B Nicholson, C Woods (0-4, 2f 1 '65), P Hughes; S Ennis (0-1), F Conway; D Hughes, S Dineen, C O'Neill; C O'Prey, J McCusker (0-6, 6f), D Toner (0-2). Subs: R Brannigan for P Hughes (HT); S Nicholson (1-1) for Dineen (41); M Turley for O'Neill (50); C Taggart for M Hughes (Blood 59-60); P Sheehan for O'Prey (61); E Clarke for M Hughes (67).

REFEREE: John Keane (Galway)