Superb Shine shoots down Wexford as Rossies advance to next round

For Roscommon supporters, players and management team, those dark, dark memories of Castlebar are now a distant memory. At Hyde Park last Saturday evening, Roscommon advanced to Round 3 of the All-Ireland Qualifiers with a thoroughly deserved victory over Wexford. In a game that was scrappy, but never failed to entertain, the home side had largely the right boot of Donie Shine to thank. The wing-forward, operating in the full-forward line, managed a highly impressive haul of 0-9, in as good a display of free-taking as one is likely to see all year. As throw-in drew closer, rumour and speculation about Mattie Forde's inclusion in the Wexford line-up spread through the crowd. According to some, he had been seen getting off the team bus, gear-bag in hand. More claimed that he was warming up with the Wexford team on the back pitch. But he wasn't listed on the official match programme and by the time 3pm rolled around, fifteen Wexford players had taken the field and none of them were Mattie Forde. An obvious boost for Roscommon. But they too were hit with some bad news before throw-in in that neither Derek Connellan nor captain Gary Cox would be taking the field. Cox had been suffering from an illness all week. In his absence Kevin Higgins was given his chance at wing-forward, while David O'Gara came in at centre-forward, the Roscommon Gaels man getting rewarded for his recent club form. As the game began, Roscommon would have been out to avoid a repeat of last week when they conceded a goal within 20 seconds. And in the second minute, Kevin Higgins intercepted a poor Wexford hand-pass before taking his point confidently with his right boot. In what was a lively start to the game, Wexford then equalised through Shane Roche after Cathal Cregg had given away possession in defence. Cregg was operating as a sweeper between the two defensive lines, a position where he performed so well in the drawn game. Donie Shine and Senan Kilbride were playing in a two-man full-forward line while Fintan Cregg had moved out to half-forward. Roscommon were dealt another blow after just five minutes when John Nolan, captain in the absence of Gary Cox, had to be withdrawn after aggravating an achilles injury that had been bothering him in the last week or so. And so in came Padraig Pearses man Paul Kelly. By the 11th minute, it was Wexford who had edged ahead courtesy of points from Shane Cullen (free) and Adrian Morrissey, having travelled up from wing-back with the ball. Shine replied for Roscommon on 14 minutes with his first of the day and, by the 16th minute, the same man had levelled matters again with a huge free from outside the 45 yard line. Shane Roche then set up Redmond Barry on 19 minutes for a well-worked point on that saw Wexford edge their noses in front once more. But that was the last time the visitors would hold the lead. Shine continued to showpiece his free-taking skills on 22 minutes when he pointed from way out on the left wing. Even when he did miss a free, off the post on 26 minutes, he managed to win the ball back and tap it over to put the home side back into the lead once more. A swift Wexford counter-attack on 29 minutes saw them level up matters once again, Ciaran Lyng the scorer on this occasion, but again it was Donie Shine, this time from a '45, who restored Roscommon's lead. The two traded scores again before the break. Lyng pointed beautifully after a sweet cross-field ball by PJ Banville, but Shine ensured that Roscommon would take a one-point lead into the break with another lovely free from out on the side-line. There was more injury woe for Roscommon before half-time however as David Keenan had to be withdrawn with yet another shoulder-injury. James McKeague of Creggs was his replacement. Upon resumption of play, Shine picked up where he left off, curling a free in off the post to stretch Roscommon's lead to two. But back came Wexford. Ciaran Lyng landed a fine score off his left under huge pressure on 48 minutes to keep Wexford in touch. And 48th minute substitute Brendan Doyle raised a white flag with his first touch of the game after Paul Kelly was caught badly in possession. With 15 minutes to go, Shine again nudged Roscommon back in front. It was anyone's game at this stage. The next score would be crucial. Wexford had half a goal chance on 63 minutes but failed to convert. More than ten minutes had elapsed and still no sign of that crucial score. Roscommon hearts were in mouths when, with two minutes to go, a long ball over the top found Wexford's Lyng free in behind the defence. But inexplicably he somehow managed to let the ball slip through his grasp and out over the end-line. A major let-off for Roscommon and one they made the most of. With normal time up, David O'Gara cut through the Wexford defence beautifully before taking his point at his ease. That was the score Roscommon needed but they weren't finished there. The last word was fittingly left to Donie Shine who tapped over his ninth of the day to seal the three-point victory. There were joyous scenes at the final whistle as the Roscommon players embraced each other. The players had restored some pride back into their county. On the day, the free-taking skills of Donie Shine were the obvious stand out. But so too were the performances of Sean Purcell and Cathal Cregg who worked tirelessly all day, and Ronan Brady who performed well in the full-back line. Roscommon now go on to meet Meath in Navan this Saturday at 7pm with the winners going on to play Limerick in the fourth round of the qualifiers. Thirteen teams remain in this year's championship. Big names like Armagh and Derry have all fallen away. But Roscommon are still there. SCORERS - Roscommon: D Shine (0-9, 7f, 1 '45'), K Higgins (0-1), D O'Gara (0-1). Wexford: C Lyng (0-3), A Morrissey (0-1), S Roche (0-1), R Barry (0-1), S Cullen (0-1f), B Doyle (0-1). ROSCOMMON: Geoffrey Claffey, Ronan Brady, John Nolan, Sean McDermott, Sean Purcell, Peter Domican, David Keenan, Michael Finneran, Brian Higgins, Kevin Higgins, David O'Gara, Donal Shine, Fintan Cregg, Senan Kilbride, Cathal Cregg. SUBS: Paul Kelly for J Nolan (5 mins), James McKeague for D Keenan (34), Jonathan Dunning for S Kilbride (62 ). WEXFORD: Anthony Masterson, Brian Malone, Graeme Molloy, Niall Murphy, Adrian Morrissey, David Murphy, Colm Morris, David Fogarty, Eric Bradley, Shane Roche, Redmond Barry, Adrian Flynn, Ciaran Lyng, Shane Cullen, PJ Banville. SUBS: Andreas Doyle for A Morrissey (43 mins), Brendan Doyle for D Fogarty (48), David Walsh for C Morris (48), Ciaran Deeley for S Roche (64), Diarmuid Kinsella for D Walsh (69). REFEREE: Maurice Deegan (Laois)