Donie Shine was Roscommon’s scoring hero as he kicked nine points in a gutsy All-Ireland SFC qualifier replay win over Wexford at Dr. Hyde Park this afternoon.
Nothing could separate the sides last weekend in Wexford, and they were level five times in the first half here before Shine’s sixth successful effort made it 0-07 to 0-06 for the break.
Ciaran Lyng and substitute Brendan Doyle squared it up at 0-08 apiece but Wexford’s wides tally ballooned and Roscommon deservedly won through to a third round clash with Meath.
The wind and rain were factors in the drawn game but in improved weather conditions today, Fergal O’Donnell’s Roscommon side proved the stronger as they set up a trip to Navan next weekend.
They had to do it the hard way after losing team captain Gary Cox to flu beforehand and having to replace both full-back John Nolan and wing-back David Keenan due to first half injuries.
Wexford have also been hampered by injuries this summer, and rumours of former All-Star Mattie Forde’s late inclusion proved wide of the mark – although talented defender Adrian Morrissey did start after a quicker-than-expected recovery from a groin injury.
For their first home fixture in six Championship games, Roscommon brought in Kevin Higgins for the sidelined Cox and David O’Gara also took over from Derek Connellan at centre-forward.
In a spritely start, Wexford nudged ahead on the scoreboard as both sides began at a fast tempo and looked for a hand-pass more often than not.
Kevin Higgins landed the opening point for Roscommon, converting from 50 yards out, but successive efforts from Shane Roche, Shane Cullen (free) and the aforementioned Morrissey pulled the visitors into a 0-03 to 0-01 lead.
Donie Shine was one of seven players included from Roscommon’s 2006 All-Ireland minor-winning side and he showed his accuracy from placed balls.
The confident wing-forward drilled over three early scores, the third of which made it 0-04 apiece after a Redmond Barry point for Wexford.
But in open play, both sides struggled for scores and while Ciaran Lyng bucked this trend, scooping over two points off limited possession, the influence of free-taker Shine was growing by the minute.
Back in defence, Sean McDermott stood out as a calming presence for Roscommon, thwarting the likes of Lyng and Adrian Flynn of as they looked to carve out openings.
Still, Wexford had five players on the mark by the end of the half and it was only a Shine free from 25 yards out, struck late in the half, which split these well-matched sides at the interval.
The story of the second half was encapsulated by Wexford’s wastefulness and Shine’s composure in front of the posts.
Both sides were guilty of early wides – Higgins, Cathal Cregg and PJ Banville were all wayward with shots – before Shine nicked a free in off the right post after being fouled himself.
That score sent Roscommon ahead by two for the first time, seven minutes after the restart. But back came Wexford, slowly but surely.
Lyng thumped a point over from the right wing and then Brendan Doyle made an immediate impact off the bench as he pointed off the outside of his right boot, levelling the sides for the sixth time at 0-08 apiece.
However, for the remaining 20 minutes and much to the chagrin of manager Jason Ryan, Wexford failed to score.
They hit eleven second half wides in all, including a goal-scoring chance which fell to wing-forward Flynn.
The quality of football did deteriorate, with tired legs having an effect, but Ronan Brady and Niall Murphy maintained a high defensive standard by preventing goals at either end.
The crucial points arrived in the final eight minutes as Shine and David O’Gara combined to seal a hard-fought victory for a Roscommon outfit that have grown in stature and genuine belief since their 20-point hammering by Mayo in the Connacht Championship.
ROSCOMMON: G Claffey; R Brady, J Nolan, S McDermott; S Purcell, P Domican, D Keenan; M Finneran, B Higgins; K Higgins (0-01), D O’Gara (0-01); D Shine (0-09, 0-07f, 0-01 ‘45’); F Cregg, S Kilbride, C Cregg.
Subs used: P Kelly for Nolan (4 mins), J McKeague for Keenan (33), J Dunning for Kilbride (62).
WEXFORD: A Masterson; B Malone, G Molloy, N Murphy; A Morrissey (0-01), D Murphy, C Morris; D Fogarty, E Bradley; S Roche (0-01), R Barry (0-01), A Flynn; C Lyng (0-03), S Cullen (0-01, 0-01f), PJ Banville.
Subs used: A Doyle for Morrissey (43 mins), D Walsh for Morris (49), B Doyle (0-01) for Fogarty (49), C Deely for Roche (65), D Kinsella for Walsh (69).
Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)
