League Report: Cobh Ramblers 1 - 0 Shelbourne

Cobh Ramblers moved off the bottom of the SSE Airtricity First Division on Saturday night thanks to a goal from Irish U-19 international Ryan Goldsmith when he finished off Stephen Kenny’s cross on 16 minutes against Shelbourne in St. Colman’s Park. 

Cobh are now unbeaten in the league under Stephen Henderson. Shelbourne rallied in the second half but were unable to get past a defiant Cobh defence with Brendan Frahill in particular standing out for the home side.

The home side opened the scoring on 16 minutes when Kenny dribbled past Daire Doyle crossing across a few players to Goldsmith who slotted it in the back post.

They were forced into a substitution straight after when Andrew Bhandarkar fell awkwardly and had to be stretchered off the pitch.

Shelbourne had a few chances off an equaliser with the best chance falling to Philip Hughes on 24 minutes when he was unable to direct his shot from inside the six yard at the target following good play by Conor Kealey down the left wing.

Gareth Coughlan who was full of attacking prowess for Shelbourne during the game whipped in a few dangerous crosses along with a few long distance shots but nothing could get past Stephen Hickey in the Cobh goal who replaced David Browne shortly before kick-off.

Both of Cobh’s wingers swapped wings during the first half and they nearly had a goal but Kenny fired wide from 12 yards.

On the verge of half time Hickey denied Coughlan from close range to preserve Cobh’s opening half lead.

Shelbourne opened the second half with an increased tempo and they were putting the Cobh defence under pressure but were left relying on an Alan O’Sullivan shot that went over the bar on 57 minutes.

Cobh could have doubled their advantage on 62 minutes when Kenny found himself one on one with Greg Murray from 12 yards but the keeper stood tall and saved the shot.

Both sides then had frees on the edge of the box with Shane O’Connor and Gareth Coughlan both hitting the wall.

Shelbourne then threw the proverbial “kitchen sink” at the Cobh goal in search of an equaliser with O’Sullivan’s shot being cleared off the line by Frahill on 71 minutes.

On 79 minutes the Dublin side forced four consecutive corners but Adam Sullivan blocked twice on the line and Hickey made a finger tip save from a Hughes header to preserve the lead and allow Cobh hold on for a valuable three points.

Cobh Ramblers: Stephen Hickey; Adam O’Sullivan, Brendan Frahill, Andrew Bhandarkar (Chris McCarthy 18), Kevin Mulcahy; Stephen Kenny (Steven McCarthy 77), Graham McCarthy, Darren Murphy, Shane O’Connor, Ryan Goldsmith; Rob Waters.
Subs not used: David Browne (gk), Kynan Rocks, Ronan Stanton, Jonathan Creamer, Rob Lynch.

Booked: S McCarthy (85), S O’Connor (89).

Shelbourne: Greg Murray; Daire Doyle (Jordan Keegan 61), Adam O’Connor, Paul Andrews, Alan Kehoe; Gareth Coughlan, Colm Crowe, Craig Walsh (Jake Donnelly 46), Conor Earley; Philip Hughes, Alan O’Sullivan.
Subs not used: Mark Sandford, Darragh Gannon, Manuel Rodriguez, Dylan McGlade, Aaron Robinson.

Booked: Walsh (21), Donnelly (61), Crowe (76), O’Sullivan (83).

Referee: Jim McKell (Tipperary)

Attendance: 400

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Brendan Frahill (Cobh Ramblers)