Report: Cobh Ramblers 2 - 0 Shamrock Rovers

Cobh Ramblers put in one of the performances of the season to date when they defeated Pat Scullys Shamrock Rovers by two goals to nil at St Colemans Park on Saturday night. Second half goals from Kieran OReilly and Kevin Murray sealed the win for the home side. Cobh fully deserved the points and after surviving a few early scares always looked the side more likely to go on and win the game.

Rovers started the game brightly and within the first ten minutes could have taken the lead on no less than three occasions. Tadhg Purcell, starting his first league game of the season, fired over from seven yards after Danny OConnor knocked the ball down to him when he met a Dessie Baker corner with his head at the back post. Minutes later Sean OConnor beat two men in the corner and crossed for Baker. Baker opted to strike it first time, but from twelve yards out he scuffed his shot completely. Then from another corner, after Danny OConnor had flicked it on, Purcell headed over when the goal was at his mercy.

It was midway through the first half when Cobh registered their first attempt at goal - but not before Rovers again threatened from a corner through Darragh Maguire. Hardworking midfielder Michael Mulcorney hooked a volley from the edge of the box over the Barry Murphys crossbar.

Cobh winger Davin O'Neill had a quiet game by his standards but twice in the space of five minutes he provided the ammunition for Cobhs front men. He first charged into the box and flicked the ball towards the front post to OReilly - however with the goal gaping OReilly snatched at it and hit fresh air. O'Neill then sent in an overhead cross but Graham Cummins, under pressure from full back Darren Stapleton, couldn't keep his header down.

Towards the end of the half Cummins headed just wide of Murphys right handside upright when he connected sweetly with an Alan Kearney free kick. Minutes later another teasing Kearney free kick forced Maguire to clear for a corner. Maguire was again in the thick of things on the stroke of half time when he forced OReilly wide and prevented him from getting a shot in.

Scully's half time team talk to his troops initially seemed to do the trick. Stephen Rice made room for himself on the edge of the box and tested James McCarthy with a powerful drive, Baker then also had a curling shot on target.

Striker OReilly continued to harass the Rovers defenders whenever possible. He was full of running and chased everything. Rovers centre backs Barry Ferguson and Maguire were simply not able to handle him. After turning Ferguson a few minutes earlier. he collected the ball, turned Maguire in a similar way, and from the edge of the box fired in a low shot. Murphy in the Rovers goal had his angles correct though and gathered low down to his right.

The second half was becoming a very open game. Rovers began pushing men forward and started to put pressure on the Cobh backline - however the longer that went on the more likely it looked that Cobh would get something from their quick counter attacks. Baker was Rovers main threat - he kept on dropping a few yards off the Cobh centre backs to find space and collect the ball. ONeill broke away on the left, beat Ger OBrien and went down in the penalty area - but referee Dave McKeon waived away the half hearted Cobh appeals.

With an hour on the clock Cobh took the lead. John Meade persevered on the left and sent in a tempting cross. OReilly reacted quickest, hit it first time, and watched it hit the roof of the net.

O'Reilly nearly made it two nil a few minutes later. Ferguson was left wanting again and he got on the end of Murrays ball over the top. OReilly then had another great chance midway through the half when a Maguire clearance fell to him in the box - however Murphy made an excellent point blank save when a goal looked certain. Purcell then went close for Rovers but McCarthy saved well.

 Cobh sealed the win with a well worked free kick routine fifteen minutes from time. Alan Kearneys delivery was again spot on, he picked out Cummins at the far post who headed it back across the face of the goal for Murray to head past the poorly positioned Murphy. Rovers went to a 3-4-1-2 formation after that and pushed forward looking for goals. Stapleton and Sean OConnor both had efforts from outside the box but McCarthy saved well on both occasions.

Cobh Ramblers: James McCarthy; Ken Coleman, Kevin Murray, Shane Guthrie, John Meade; Davin ONeill (Michael O'Shea 87), Alan Kearney (John Kearney 93), Shane Barrett, Michael Mulconry, Graham Cummins, Kieran O'Reilly.
Subs not used: Conor Meade.

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Ger O'Brien, Darren Stapleton (Alan Murphy 79), Darragh Maguire, Barry Ferguson; Danny O'Connor, Eric McGill (Eoin Doyle 73), Stephen Rice, Sean O'Connor; Tadhg Purcell, Dessie Baker (Jonathan Martin 73).
Subs not used: Karl Coleman, Corie Tracey.

Referee: Dave McKeon.

Attendance: 1,290