A week after edging out Division 3 champions Westmeath at O'Moore Park, Oisin McConville's side returned to the venue and lost a dramatic encounter to Kildare on Sunday, with the Lilywhites prevailing on a 0-16 to 1-12 scoreline.
Jack Sargent fisted over a 75th-minute winning point as Kildare booked a place in a Leinster SFC semi-final, but only after a crazy injury time period when they almost let the game slip from their grasp.
Kildare led by four points with five minutes of normal time remaining, but Wicklow sub Oisin McGraynor's contribution of 1-01 drew the side's level.
Sargent had the final say in the contest with the decisive score, with McConville describing the defat afterwards as "sickening".
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"They got off to a very bad start in the league and got relegated, but pulled off a really good win (against Westmeath) and followed it up by going toe-to-toe with Kildare," he said.
"Yes they missed their chance, but they are a Division 4 side, so do they really want to fall into the Sam Maguire stage?
"They will say yes, but I think they can look forward to the Tailteann Cup, look at all the teams there, and say, 'we can have a real go at this’ with real good confidence.
"They have a realistic chance of punching big holes in the Tailteann Cup and that for Wicklow would be a superb season.
"Even with the relegation, it will leave them with a real sense that they are on an upward curve."
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