HE WILL SHINE IN THE ROLE

Roscommon great Donie backs new boss Dowd to push the county on

- KARL O'KANE

Roscommon Gaels’ Championship defeat by St Brigid's over the weekend means new county boss Mark Dowd is free to fully focus on the county's fortunes.

And Donie Shine reckons recently appointed Dowd is the right man for the job.

The 36-year-old played under Dowd in the Roscommon’s All-Ireland minor triumph in 2006 and the seniors’ Connacht title in 2010, when they won the provincial crown from Division Four.

Dowd was part of Fergal O'Donnell’s management team for both victories but, having long since stepped out on his own, he has now moved up to the top job in the county.

Shine, forced to retire from football in 2021 due to persistent injuries, is not overly bothered about Roscommon yo-yoing between Divisions One and Two over the past decade.