League Preview: Shelbourne -v- Cobh Ramblers

SHELBOURNE

Shelbourne hope to maintain their promotion push as they seek back-to-back home wins over Cobh Ramblers (kick-off 7.45pm).

Since losing at Tolka Park to fellow promotion-chasers Drogheda United on July 13^th Shels have mined seven points from their last three games, to lie just two points off second place in the table.

Last time out, the Reds turned in an outstanding second half performance as they trounced Longford Town, one of their nearest rivals in the table, 6-1 at Tolka Park.

Debutant Karl Moore fired a hat trick while veteran Dave Mulcahy, top scorer Dave O’Sullivan and James English (from the spot) were also on the mark.

“A massive result for us, coming on top of the point obtained at Finn Harps,” Shels boss Owen Heary told journalist Aaron Clarke.

"We started well but then Longford probably had the better chances but Deano pulled off some good saves. Second half we started a little bit sloppy.

“They got a goal back, and then once we got the second goal and the third goal, we just seemed to get a new lease of life”.

The dismissal of Longford’s Jamie Doyle, just after Shels’ third, helped as well. But Heary was happy with how his men responded.

“The energy levels were there, they were high and we managed to put a couple more in the net.”

Heary’s attention now switches to Ramblers. “We want to win our home games,” he said.

“The games now are more vital, because we’re finished with the likes of Finn Harps, with UCD, with Drogheda – games that you should be up for because they’re a top of the table clash.

“Now you’re playing teams that are lower than you in the league, you need to produce and put a performance in.”

“The good thing is that we now have a squad where, if someone’s not at it, we have enough quality to change it – we just need to keep them motivated, to keep them at it.”

“Draws are not good enough [at this stage], but we need to stay in the top four, you need to be in the playoffs. You want to finish second if you’re not going to win it.”

COBH RAMBLERS

Cobh Ramblers' difficult season continued with a 1-0 home defeat to Finn Harps last week.

A second half Mikey Place strike consigned Ramblers to a depressing seventh home league reverse of the season.

Midfielder Shane O’Connor, who has just rejoined Ramblers, after an injury-blighted sojourn with Longford Town, gave his views to the club media team in advance of the Shelbourne showdown.

“I’m delighted to be back at Cobh – a place always close to my heart,” he said.

“I’m delighted that Stephen gave me the opportunity to come back and play with a group that aren’t in a position that they should be in the league, for one reason and another.”

O’Connor feels results are not doing justice to preparation.

“There’s good training there. There’s real hard work going in during the week. It’s a shame then that you’re not showing your true colours at the weekend.”

“It’s a huge game for us,” said O’Connor of the Shels match. “We still have a lot to play for with the cups.”

“Next season is key for us. The way we want to go into next season is by finishing this season off strong.”

“Momentum is a huge thing. We saw that in 2016 when we won six or seven on the bounce to get in the play-offs.”

“Shels are on a good run but it’s been a ground that we’ve nicked a few results at so there’s no reason why we can’t go up there and upset them.”

“Onto next year what we want to do is give this town a football team that they can be proud of, give them a team to support.”

“Stephen and everybody behind the scenes are absolutely working tremendously hard. We’re looking forward to these games coming up.”

Referee: Andrew Mullally

MATCH STATS

The two meetings between the sides in the league this season have seen two wins for Shelbourne.

A goal from Dave O’Sullivan gave Shels victory on the last occasion the sides met at Tolka Park. That was back in March.

The most recent encounter was at St. Colman’s Park and Shels left Cobh with the points after a 3-0 victory, in which James English netted twice and James Brown added a third.

Shels have lost just once at home all season in the league. That was their opening Tolka Park fixture against Galway United back in February.

Ramblers will be seeking to end a run of three successive league defeats. The Cobh men did win both league battles with Shels at Tolka Park last season.

BETTING

Shelbourne 1/4; Draw 7/2; Cobh Ramblers 15/2.

PREDICTION

Shelbourne 3 – 1 Cobh Ramblers

Shelbourne

Injured: Mark Hughes, Aidan Collins.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Cobh Ramblers

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Ben O’Riordan.