League Report: Cobh Ramblers 2 - 1 Athlone Town

Cobh Ramblers ensured a 100% home win record against Athlone Town this season defeating them in St. Colman’s Park on Saturday night. First half goals from Steven Christopher and Jason Abbott ensured that Cobh would lead going into the break and as hard as Athlone Town tried they could only muster a late consolation goal through Daniel Molloy.

Athlone Town had the games first chances of the game with Cian O’Sullivan and shortly afterwards Adam Kelly seeing their shots from distance narrowly avoid the goal with Kelly’s in particular close hitting the crossbar.

Somewhat against the general run of play Cobh took the lead through Christopher when his shot from 18 yards flew into the back of the net after Conor Dunne had lost possession for the Midlanders.

Athlone to their credit never dropped their heads and nearly had an equaliser when on 16 minutes Daniel Purdy off a well worked training ground routine his shot brought a smart save out of Eoghan Daly. Dunne who had earlier had been at fault for the concession of the goal nearly redeemed himself but unfortunately he was unable to keep his shot down following a corner. It was one of several corners for Athlone during the opening period.

Just like with the first goal Cobh got another goal against the run of play when following a long run up the right wing the ball fell to Steven Kenny who layed the ball off to Abbott and he curled his shot from 20 yards into the top corner of the goal past Paddy Dunican.

It could possibly have been three on 28 minutes when Ryan Goldsmith’s cross found Chris McCarthy at the back post but his header was blocked by Dunican’s point blank save.

Both teams had further chances with Shane O’Connor seeing his shot go out for a corner while Daniel Purdy saw his free kick be tipped out for a corner by Daly.

At the start of the second half Abbott thought he had a second goal but his close range header was ruled out for offside by the linesman.

The second half saw the game go into a bit of a lull as despite both teams having plenty of possession and making nice passing moves they were unable to create many opportunities that excited the crowd in attendance.

For Cobh O’Connor was full of running chasing numerous balls that forced the Athlone defence to be on their toes while Christopher nearly scored a second on 70 minutes but Dunne got across to block the youngsters shot.

Athlone Town had the majority of possession in the final ten minutes but save for a few goalmouth scrambles they didn’t look like threatening Daly’s goal this was despite the fact that they won nine corners over the course of the game.

In stoppage time Athlone Town scored a late consolation goal through a Molloy header from close range following Aidan Friel’s cross. But it was too little too late for Athlone as Andrew Mullally blew his whistle immediately after the goal.

Cobh Ramblers: Eoghan Daly; Graham McCarthy, Kevin Mulcahy, Brendan Frahill, Anthony O’Donnell; Jason Abbott; Steven Christopher, Christopher McCarthy (David King 87), Ryan Goldsmith (Bobbi Donoghue 77); Shane O’Connor; Steven Kenny.

Subs not used: David Browne, Adam O’Sullivan, David Curran, James Furlong

Yellow Cards: O’Donnell (16), Mulcahy (35), Kenny (63), Abbott (69), Donoghue (84)

Athlone Town: Paddy Dunican; Aidan Friel, Stephen Dunne, Gavin Doyle, Derek Doyle; Cian O’Sullivan, Gavin Boyne, Daniel Purdy, Ian Fletcher (Molloy 58); Sam O’Connor, Adam Kelly.

Subs not used: Colm Murray, Aidan Collins, Marco Chindea

Yellow Cards: None

Referee: Andrew Mullally (Waterford)

Attendance: 370 (estimate)

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Shane O’Connor (Cobh Ramblers)