Roscommon 0-11 Wexford 0-8

Roscommon’s supporters are singing again, and the Connacht Championship capitulation to Mayo is now but an irritating memory.

Fergal O’Donnell’s side is back in business, and preparing for a trip to Navan next weekend, following a morale-boosting three-point win over Wexford in the All-Ireland SFC Qualifier second round replay today.

Donie Shine was the star with a nine-point haul at Hyde Park, and while this rematch was no classic, it could strengthen the shaky foundations that Roscommon’s season had been standing upon.

Next up it’s Meath, and a Roscommon team with a bit of momentum could put it up to the Royals.

The home side trailed by 0-3 to 0-1by the tenth minute, after wing back Adrian Morrissey had raided for a point to add to earlier efforts from Shane Roche and Shane Cullen (free).

But two Donie Shine frees brought the sides level, and his superbly struck placed ball from near the sideline equalised again in response to Redmond Barry’s score.

Shine’s fourth, and first from play, edged the Rossies back in front on 25 minutes.

Ciaran Lyng became the fifth Wexford player to hit he target as the scores were levelled for the fourth time, while Shine continued to dominate the Roscommon scoring, converting a 45 in response.

And his accuracy sent the Connacht men in with a 0-7 to 0-6 interval lead as another angled free split the posts.


They could have been further ahead, had Cathal Cregg shown a little more composure when sent through on goal by Senan Kilbride, but Fergal O’Donnell’s side did ease further ahead when Shine landed another free six minutes into the second half.

Wexford’s wastefulness saw them rack up a succession of wides, until Lyng hooked over a gem to narrow the gap to a single point on 48 minutes, and substitute Brendan Doyle levelled with his first touch.

Roscommon needed some disciplined defending from Ronan Brady and Peter Domican to thwart a threatening Wexford wave, but both sides failed to capitalise on the sloppy handling and stray passing that blighted an honest, but at times untidy, contest.

Niall Murphy’s intervention averted a dangerous situation at the back for Wexford, but the pressure told in the end, and Shine and O’Gara finished the job off for a Roscommon side that has moved on courageously from the Connacht Championship mauling by Mayo.

Roscommon: G Claffey, R Brady, J Nolan, S McDermott, S Purcell, P Domican, D Keenan, M Finneran, B Higgins, K Higgins (0-1), D O’Gara (0-1), D Shine (0-9, 7f, 1 ‘45’), F Cregg, S Kilbride, C Cregg.

Subs: P Kelly for Nolan (4), J McKeague for Keenan (33), J Dunning for Kilbride (61)

Wexford: A Masterson, B Malone, G Molloy, N Murphy, A Morrissey (0-1), D Murphy, C Morriss, D Fogarty, E Bradley, S Roche (0-1), R Barry (0-1), A Flynn, C Lyng (0-3), S Cullen (0-1, f), PJ Banville.

Subs: A Doyle for Morrissey (42), D Walsh for Morris (49), B Doyle (0-1) for Fogarty (49), C Deely for Roche (64), D Kinsella for Walsh (69)

Referee: M Deegan (Laois).