MICK O'DWYER'S Wicklow revolution was momentarily halted in Aughrim as Dublin marched confidently through to the O'Byrne Cup final. The Leinster champions easily cut through the hype of Wicklow's early season renaissance to book a date with Laois or Offaly who play each other today.

Just like their quarterfinal win over Westmeath last Sunday, the Dubs ultimately sealed victory by half-time.

At that stage they led by nine points and despite a secondhalf improvement from Wicklow with a strong wind now behind them it was too little, too late.

The home defeat marked Kerry legend Micko's first as Wicklow manager following wins over Carlow and Wexford in the same competition.

But Paul Caffrey's Dublin side represented an obvious step up and in front of around 4,500 and O'Dwyer wasn't exactly downbeat. He pragmatically noted that Dublin are easily "in the top four in the country".

He also pointed to their array of scoring talent with young gun Dermot Connolly continuing to impress up front. The talented St Vincent's man matched Conal Keaney's overall contribution of 0-5 to send Dublin's travelling support back home with a smile.

"We competed right up until the end and that was the most important thing from my point of view, " said O'Dwyer. "Dublin would be well above us in terms of power and strength and fitness. But we competed with them and every lad did his best and I'd be very proud of that. Overall it was a good competition for us."

For O'Dwyer's opposite number, Dublin manager Caffrey, it was business as usual after four wins from four now in 2007. "The wind was horrific out there so it was a matter of battening down the hatches when we were against it. Again there were some good performances from the younger fellas and they're doing themselves no harm in the run up to the national league."

But credit to Wicklow for a battling performance over the entire 70 minutes despite an awful start. By the half-hour mark they could have easily thrown in the towel as they trailed 0-12 to 01 after a rip-roaring start from Dublin. Connolly, Dublin's find of the new season, opened the floodgates with their first two points.

By the time Wicklow registered their solitary point for the half Dublin had moved five points clear.

That Wicklow score came from danger man Paul Earls in the 17th minute. But it only stopped the Dublin onslaught momentarily and the visitors landed another 0-7 without reply. Kevin Bonner, Derek Murray and lively duo Alan Brogan and Keaney were all on the mark.

Micko opted to field just a two man full-forward line with Leighton Glynn operating as an extra defender. The ploy eventually worked three minutes before the break when Wicklow capitalised with a goal on the break. JP Dalton found Earls who picked out Tony Hannon in space in front of goal and he slotted home with a low drive.

And Wicklow will take heart from the fact they outscored Dublin after the break 0-4 to 0-2. Earls hit two more points while Tony Hannon and James Stafford were also on the mark. Crucially, Earls also hit five wides and after that dismal firsthalf Wicklow needed everything they could get.

DUBLIN S Cluxton; P Grif"n, N O'Shea, C Prenderville; C Goggins, C Moran, G Brennan;

D Magee, D O'Mahony; D Connolly (0-5; 0-2 45s, 0-1 free), D Lally, D Murray (0-1); C Keaney (0-5; 0-2 frees), K Bonner (0-1), A Brogan (0-3) Subs P Burke for Bonner, 30mins; J Magee for D Magee, 51 mins; D Magee for O'Mahony, 59 mins; B Cahill for Lally, 62 mins; T Quinn for Burke, 66 mins WICKLOW J Bolger; C Hyland, D �? hAnnaidh, A Byrne; S Cushe, C Foley, K Manning; J Stafford (0-1), D Jackman; J Slattery, JP Dalton, P Phibbs; L Glynn, P Earls (0-3; 0-1 45, 0-1 free), T Hannon (1-1) Subs S King for Phibbs, 25 mins Referee S �? Sé (Wexford)