League Report: Shelbourne 2 - 0 Cobh Ramblers

Two goals in the first half from Carl Walshe and Gareth Coughlan were enough for Shelbourne to run-out winners in the last game of the season, although both sides were guilty of not adding to the scoreline.

Shelbourne set the tone in the first minute of the game, with Gareth Coughlan seeing his shot saved after good build-up play from Dylan McGlade. It was a sign of things to come as they took the lead soon after in the sixth minute of the match.

It all started with a great long pass from Ryan Robinson to pick out Dylan McGlade on the right wing. He worked his way down the channel before cutting it back to James English just inside the box, with the striker then sliding the ball sideways into the feet of Carl Walshe.

David Browne got a hand to Walshe’s shot but it continued towards goal, where it looked to be cleared at the last minute. However, the assistant on the far side waved his flag and Shelbourne went one goal up.

Steven Christopher was the main outlet for Cobh as his pace caused problems but his crosses just weren’t creating enough of those problems in the box. As they controlled possession, Shels had the next big chance as Conor Earley saw his low cross headed clear by Brendan Frahill with Walshe lurking for a second.

The Reds were not to wait long for a second though, as they were awarded a penalty in the twenty-second minute of the game after McGlade was tripped in the box. Gareth Coughlan stepped up to take it, and although his attempt was saved initially, he leapt quickly to head the rebound over Browne and into the net.

Cobh slowly got back into the game and they did have good chances towards the end of the half, with first Christopher’s lay-off for RyanGoldsmith leading to a shot just over the crossbar before Goldsmith’s through ball for Stephen Kenny was intercepted by Ryan Robinson.

The second half saw Shelbourne sprint out of the blocks again with Earley and Doyle having early chances. Yet it was Cobh’s biggest chance of the game that came within five minutes of the restart as they were awarded a penalty after Jack Brady brought down Stephen Kenny trying to get on the end of Goldsmith’s good pass.

Kenny stepped up to take the penalty he won but Brady guessed the right way and the ball was cleared before Cobh had a chance of scoring on the rebound.

A timely interception by Brendan Frahill stopped Walshe getting through on goal before Robinson and Doyle had to do the same to stop Cobh getting back into the game. Walshe had an even better chance in the sixth-fourth minute but he shot straight at Browne after cutting inside.

Adam O’Connor and Dylan Grimes came off the bench to make it seven Shelbourne players playing a part having come through the underage set-up, most notably centreback Conor Keeley who has been with the club since u11’s.

The introduced duo both caused problems and Cobh’s rearguard had to make blocks to prevent them adding to the score-line, either side of a chance for James English, before Browne stood up tall to save from McGlade, the first of three saves he had to make from the winger in the last few minutes

Cobh too had late chances but none of them really troubled Jack Brady in the Shelbourne goal. The final action of the match saw Browne make a last save against McGlade as the final whistle blew on the final game of the 2015 season for both sides.

Shelbourne: Jack Brady; Darragh Gannon (Adam O’Connor 67), Conor Keeley, Ryan Robinson, Alan Kehoe; Dylan McGlade, Daire Doyle, Gareth Coughlan, Conor Earley (Dylan Grimes 67); James English, Carl Walshe (Mark Sandford 80).

Subs not used: Greg Murray, Jake Donnelly, Alan O’Sullivan, Evan Osam.

Booked: None

Cobh Ramblers: David Browne; Adam O’Sullivan, Brendan Frahill, Kevin Mulcahy, Christopher McCarthy; David Curran, Jason Abbott; Steven Christopher, Ryan Goldsmith, Jakub Buris (Bobbi Donoghue 65); Stephen Kenny.

Subs not used: James Furlong, Anthony O’Donnell, Eoghan Daly.

Booked: None

Referee: Andrew Mullally

Attendance: 406

Extratime Man of the Match: Dylan McGlade (Shelbourne)