League Report: Cobh Ramblers 0 - 2 Galway United

Paul Corcoran reports from St Colman’s Park

Galway United continued their perfect start to the season with a 2-0 win over Cobh Ramblers on Friday evening, the Tribesmen are now on a five-game winning streak.

Cobh suffered their first defeat of the season as goals from Vince Borden and Ronan Manning in either half secured the three points for the visitors.

Ramblers named two changes after their 3-0 win over Treaty United last weekend, Luke Desmond and Tiernan O’Brien came into the starting team in place of Dale Holland and Wilson Waweru. Waweru missed out on the matchday squad due to being on loan at St Colman’s Park from Galway.

John Caulfield returned to the side-line after serving his three-match suspension due to his sending off when his side faced Finn Harps on the opening day of the season.

Caulfield made just one change to his starting line-up that defeated Kerry 9-1 last Friday night – Ibrahim Keita started in place of Francely Lomboto after the French striker netted twice off the bench against Billy Dennehy’s side.

Both teams were on the attacking front in the early exchanges – Galway’s Rob Slevin drew a save from Lee Steacy when he flicked a header on at the near post from an Ed McCarthy long throw on the right flank.

At the other end some industrious work from Tiernan O’Brien got him into a great position on the left, his cross to Luke Desmond wasn’t kept on target as the midfielder nicked the ball inches wide of the post in the third minute.

Ed Mcarthy, fresh off a hattrick last week showed a glimpse of the form that he is in currently in the 20^th minute when he turned in off his marker on the edge of the box, he took the ball on and struck a lovely shot at goal with it whizzing past Lee Steacy’s post.

United were in on goal again minutes later – Keita managed to sneak the ball to Stephen Walsh on the edge of the box as he took a heavy challenge, the striker may well have had the ball in the back of the net only for Cian Browne’s sliding challenge to send Walsh’s shot behind for a corner.

The Tribesmen broke the deadlock in the 35^th minute in spectacular fashion, the visitors had been winning set piece after set piece with their deliveries poor, unsurprisingly as their main free-kick taker Regan Donelon went off injured early in the first half.

On this occasion McCormack did a short flick to Vince Borden who smacked the ball low, sneaking it through the Cobh defence and nestling it in the bottom right corner of the net for his fourth goal of the season.

Charlie Lyons made a big intervention shortly after the re-start when Ed McCarthy broke through into the box, he saw Walsh waiting by himself at the back post and it was a nailed on second goal only for the Cob defender’s well-timed challenge to send the ball behind.

The visitors went close again in the 51^st minute after a great ball from Borden to the onrushing McCormack on the endline, United’s captain cut in and fired a shot off on goal, but Steacy got down well to deny the goal.

Second half substitute James O’Leary made an impact with his first touches on the hour mark, the winger cutting in well off the wing to beat Conor O’Keeffe before flicking the ball to Jack Doherty he turned and shot on goal with Brendan Clarke making the save.

O’Leary was the instigator again just moments later with his play on the right setting up a move with Jason Abbott to get the ball to Doherty deep in the box – the forward couldn’t make the most of his chance and Clarke saved once again.

Despite the brief spell of pressure Galway doubled their lead in the 63^rd minute, a defensive error allowed Keita in on goal, Steacy did well to make the initial save but the ball only went as far as Ronan Manning who powered the ball into the bottom left corner.

It was nearly 3-0 in the 72^nd minute after a great corner-kick from Manning, Rob Slevin met the ball with a string header but some great positioning by Steacy allowed the goalkeeper clutch onto the ball and deny the visitors.

That was how it ended, with the sting gone out of the game after the second goal, up next for Ramblers is a long trip to face Finn Harps next Friday while Galway are at home to Longford Town.

Cobh Ramblers: Lee Steacy; Cian Browne, Brendan Frahill, Charlie Lyons, Michael McCarthy; Jason Abbott, Luke Desmond (Callum Stringer 57), Issa Kargbo (James O'Leary 57), Tiernan O'Brien (Jake Hegarty 57), Pierce Phillips; Jack Doherty.

Subs not used: Darragh Burke, Justin Eguaibor, Darragh O'Sullivan-Connell, Claudio Osorio, Dale Holland, David Bosnjak.

Booked: Brendan Frahill (22), Charlie Lyons (23).

Galway United: Brendan Clarke; Killian Brouder, Regan Donelon (Conor O'Keeffe 9), Colm Horgan, Rob Slevin; Vincent Borden (Maurice Nugent 77), Ronan Manning (Francely Lomboto 77), Edward McCarthy (Darren Clarke 77), Conor McCormack; Ibrahim Keita (David Hurley 67), Stephen Walsh.

Subs not used: Alex Rutter, Evan O'Connor, Mikie Rowe, Rob Manley.

Booked: Stephen Walsh (45).

Referee: Eoghan O’Shea.

extratime.com Player of the Match: Ronan Manning (Galway United)

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