Sport

Roscommon gain confidence

ALL-IRELAND SFC QUALIFIER ROUND TWO (replay) Roscommon 0-11 Wexford 0-8 : ROSCOMMON MANAGER Fergal O’Donnell said his team’s…

Mon Jul 20 2009 - 01:00

ALL-IRELAND SFC QUALIFIER ROUND TWO (replay) Roscommon 0-11 Wexford 0-8: ROSCOMMON MANAGER Fergal O'Donnell said his team's win over Wexford would give them confidence ahead of next weekend's qualifier against Meath after an error-ridden second-round replay before 4,864 fans at Hyde Park on Saturday evening.

Donie Shine was Roscommon’s hero with an exhibition of free-taking. Only a point separated the teams entering the last minute when Roscommon’s Kevin Higgins and Peter Domican set up David O’Gara for a point. Shine clinched victory from a 35-metre free two minutes into injury-time. Wexford hit 10 wides in the second half, including a missed goal chance from Adrian Flynn.

Higgins gave Roscommon an early lead but Wexford led 0-3 to 0-1 after 10 minutes with scores from Shane Roche, Shane Cullen and Adrian Morrissey. Shine converted frees in the 13th and 15th minutes before Redmond Barry nudged Wexford back into the lead. Shine equalised from a 35-metre free from the left sideline and gave Roscommon the lead with a point from play in the 25th minute. Lyng levelled and after Shine and Lyng exchanged points Shine slotted a free to give his team a 0-7 to 0-6 half-time lead.

Shine doubled the lead six minutes into the second half, but Wexford levelled through Lyng and Brendan Doyle. Wexford failed to score again and after Shine curled over a 30-metre free in the 55th minute Roscommon sealed victory in the final minutes.

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“I’m hope we can be competitive against Meath,” said O’Donnell after the game.

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), F Cregg; S Kilbride, D Shine (0-9, seven frees, one 45), C Cregg. Subs: P Kelly for Nolan (5 mins), J McKeague for Keenan (34 mins), J Dunning for Kilbride (61 mins).

WEXFORD: A Masterson; B Malone, G Molloy, N Murphy; A Morrissey (0-1), D Murphy, C Morris; D Fogarty, E Bradley; A Flynn, S Cullen (0-1, free), R Barry (0-1); PJ Banville, S Roche (0-1), C Lyng (0-3). Subs: A Doyle for Morrissey (43 mins), B Doyle (0-1)for Fogarty (49 mins), D Walsh for Morris (49 mins), C Deely for Roche (64 mins), D Kinsella for Walsh (69 mins).

Referee: M Deegan(Laois).