Cobh Ramblers vs Bohemians

Cobh Ramblers have it all to do in the remaining two games of the league if they are to secure Premier division status for next season. Trailing Galway by three points as a result of the Tribesmen’s victory over Finn Harps on Friday, Cobh realistically requires a win against Bohemians on Saturday to have any hope of survival. Due to a vastly inferior goal difference, they can’t finish on the same points as Galway and expect to survive (unless there is a goal fest in their last game, which is unlikely to happen when you play Derry in the Brandywell).

Despite their League title success there is still much for Bohemians to play for. There are valuable places in the Cup final squad to be won and Pat Fenlon has set breaking the 80 league points total as one of the remaining goals for his record breaking team. Fenlon said,"

There is no question of us easing up in the league. If we take our foot off the pedal now it could be difficult to get back to the level required to win trophies and the Cup final is very close. We also have to be fair to the rest of the league and continue to put out a strong team. All our remaining matches are good games because issues such as relegation and European football are at stake. Cobh are fighting against relegation and they will not be satisfied to merely compete against us, they will want to beat us. That will keep my players on their toes and that is a good situation for us to be in as we approach the Cup final."

Pat Fenlon must plan without midfielder Stephen O'Donnell who is suspended for the first of two games as a result of reaching 12 penalty points for the season. John Paul Kelly will miss this game with a hip flexor injury and he will be joined in the treatment room by fellow right winger, Anthony Murphy who continues to struggle with an ankle ligament complaint. Jason Byrne is likely to be the main beneficiary from the duo's absence. Neale Fenn and Killian Brennan will be available for selection again after missing the last game against UCD.

Despite their late loss at Bray, Cobh remain one of the form teams over the last five games. They have hit a purple patch notching ten points from a possible 15 and scoring eight goals in the process. Four clean sheets in the last five games also suggest that Cobh have sorted out their defensive weakness.

Manager Stephen Henderson, who will leave his post at the end of this season, welcomes back John Kearney from suspension. James McCarthy looks likely to miss the remaining two games due to a knee injury so Anthony Fennelly will start in goals, having done so against Bray last week. Daryl Kavanagh is a major doubt with a groin strain.

The game kicks off at 19:45 and Extratime.ie will be there with Bar OSullivan to keep you right up to date with all the action.

Extratime.ie: Cobh to go down by 2 goals to nil and with it their chances of survival.