League Report: Shelbourne 0 - 1 Cobh Ramblers

Evan Galvin provided the only goal as Cobh Ramblers beat Shelbourne 1-0 in a lively encounter at Tolka Park on Friday night.

Both sides started off feeling each other out with Shelbourne having the better of the possession.

But it was the visitors who created the first opening when Shelbourne’s Greg Murray was forced to tip the ball over the bar from a Kevin Mulcahy header.

From the resulting corner Cobh’s Rob Lehane had a shot blocked with the home side eventually scrambling the ball away.

Shelbourne were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty just before the hour mark when Lorcan Shannon looked to be pushed over in the box by Cobh’s David Curran but referee Robert Hennessey waved play on.

The second half started with a bang when Cobh’s Cian Kingston came flying into a challenge with James English, leaving the Shelbourne player needing treatment.

However, referee Hennessey saw it to be only worthy of a yellow card much to the displeasure of the home crowd.

If that didn’t please the Shelbourne faithful what happened on the 53^rd minute aggravated them further.

 Evan Galvin, who was Ramblers’ best player on the night scrambled the ball home following some questionable defending from the Reds back four.

That goal seemed to get the home side going with Jamie Doyle and James English both going close with efforts in quick succession.

With not much going forward Cobh were content on sitting on their lead and trying to catch Shelbourne on the counter.

The home side had the majority of the ball but failed to trouble Cobh or create any clear cut chance until the 70^th minute when Shannon got down the right wing to whip in a cross only for Jamie Doyle to head wide.

With Shelbourne pressing they were caught in the break and Cobh were awarded a penalty on the 72^nd minute. Evan Galvin stepped up but Shels stopper Murray denied him and Cobh a second with a brilliant save.

With Shelbourne pressing for the equaliser they became even more vulnerable to Cobh’s counter attack.

Evan Galvin, once again nearly made them pay on the 80^th minute when some good play between him and Shane O’Connor resulted in Galvin smashing the post.

However, even with five added minutes the home side failed to equalise with Cobh Ramblers taking all three points from Tolka Park.

Shelbourne FC: Greg Murray, Adam O’Connor, Alan Kehoe (Sodiq OGuntola 86), Aidan Collins, Ryan Robinson, Daire Doyle, Cian Kavanagh, Gavin Boyne (Carl Walshe 75), James English, Jamie Doyle (Dylan Kavanagh 74), Lorcan Shannon.

Subs Not Used: Jack Brady, Robert O’Reilly, Robert Duggan, Darragh Gannon.

Yellow Cards: Ryan Robinson (83), Sodiq OGuntola.

Cobh Ramblers: Paul Hunt, Cian Kingston, Shane O’Connor, Graham McCarthy, Kevin Mulcahy, David Curran, Rob Lehane, (Markus Gustavsson 76^th), Jason Abbott, Ian Mylod, Evan Gavlin (Andy O’Connell 90^th), Anthony O’Donnell (Cory Galvin 61).

Subs not used: Steven Christopher, Adam O’Sullivan, James Furlong, Christopher McCarthy.

Yellow Cards: Kingston (47).

Referee: Robert Hennessey.

Attendance: 644.

Extratime.is Man of the Match: Evan Galvin (Cobh Ramblers).

You can see a selection of pictures from the game as taken by Ciaran Cooney and Eoin Smith by clicking here.