St Pats CY 3 - 4 Cobh Ramblers

There were goals galore in Frank Cooke Park on Saturday afternoon, as Cobh Ramblers won by the odd goal in seven to beat St Patrick’s CY and progress to the next round of the FAI Cup.

Indeed the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story as Dave Hill’s side went four nil up after 55 minutes, only to see his side take the foot off the pedal and concede three times.

This cup tie had barely a chance to find its rhythm when Cobh Ramblers took the lead inside three minutes. A Roy Kenny corner on the right was initially cleared by Andrew Doolan, but at the second attempt Kenny crossed the ball for Brian Fitzgerald to score with a well placed header.

Conor Meade has been in devastating form in the league this season, scoring ten goals so far. The Cobh Ramblers striker added an FAI Cup goal to his haul on 11 minutes when he calmly curled his free kick passed a despairing Stephen Murphy into the top left corner of the St Pats CY goal.

The “home” side weren’t about to roll over and die though. First Glen O’Connor saw his free kick on the right almost curl inside Robert Birdsall’s far post before a long range Mark Boland drive hit the Cobh Rambler’s crossbar with the away keeper struggling.

The second half started as the first did, with an early Cobh Ramblers’ goal. The impressive Bobbi Donogue broke into the box and was taken down leaving referee Derek Tomney with no option but to point to the spot.

Conor Meade was the calmest man in the ground as he blasted the spot kick straight down the middle, in off the crossbar. It was his second and the Rams’ third of the evening and the St Pats CY bench could have been forgiven for fearing a rout.

With 21 goals in the First Division this season, only Longford Town have scored more times than Cobh Ramblers this season. There was no surprise then as the Cork side turned the screw and got the fourth on 55 minutes, when Donoghue tapped in from close range and the tie seemed over as a contest.

The problem at St Colman’s Park this season has been at the other end of the pitch though, and this proved to be the case again in this cup tie. Having been introduced as a first half substitute Thomas Dunne had been impressing in the St Pats CY attack, and just after the hour mark he got the goal he deserved. Alan Murphy played the striker through on goal and when one on one with the Ramblers’ goalkeeper, Dunne calmly rolled the ball past him and into the net.

Minutes later Birdsall saved well from Jason Doyle but Dave Hill became more and more animated in the away dugout, as he looked for his side to play the simple ball and see out the game.

Into the last ten minutes, and half time substitute Karl O’Brien came close with an effort from the edge of the box as St Pats CY pressed – but few could have predicted the final flurry. On the stroke of 90 minutes, St Pats CY midfielder Brian Mooney saw his well struck right footed shot fly past Birdsall for what seemed like a second consolation goal.

Deep into time added, Tomney awarded a second penalty of the game and up stepped Dunne to reduce the deficit to one from the spot. A real buzz went around the ground as the Dublin club dared to believe, but alas it was too little too late as this goal filled game was brought to a close moments after Cobh restarted.

Next up for Cobh Ramblers is a trip to Mervue United next Saturday afternoon as Dave Hill comes up against his former teammate Johnny Glynn in the Mervue dugout. St Patrick’s CY however are back in cup action next weekend as they take on Wayside Celtic in the Metropolitan Cup Final in Whitehall next Sunday (kick off 11am).

St Patrick’s CY: Stephen Murphy; Lee Weafer, Warren Behan (Thomas Nolan 61), David Andrews, Glen O’Connor; Mark Boland, Andrew Doolan (Karl O’Brien 46), Brian Mooney, Alan Murphy; Jason Doyle, Paul Healy (Thomas Dunne 30).

Booked: Paul Healy (15), Jason Doyle (22), Andy Doolan (37), Brian Mooney (45+3).

Cobh Ramblers: Robert Birdsall; Adam Thompson, Brian Fitzgerald, Brendan Frahill, John Meade; Bobbi Donoghue (Jonathan Spillane 68), Andrew Bhandarker (Alan O’Flynn 73), Roy Kenny, Keith O’Flynn; Kynan Rocks (Dave Curran 46), Conor Meade.

Booked: None.

Referee: Derek Tomney

Attendance: 100 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Conor Meade (Cobh Ramblers).