First Division Playoff Preview: Wexford -v- Cobh Ramblers

Ben Lynch in action for Wexford

Ben Lynch in action for Wexford Credit: Paul Dolan (ETPhotos)

Two teams who have been inseparable all season come together again for the fifth time at Ferrycarrig Park on Tuesday night when Wexford play host to Cobh Ramblers in the first leg semi-final of the First Division play-offs.

 WEXFORD

Wexford will look to end what has been a great season for them so far by reaching the final of the First Division play-offs and facing either Waterford or Athlone Town in early November.

They finished in sixth position in the First Division last season but performed much better this season and ended the campaign in fourth position on 53 points, six points behind Tuesday night’s opponents Cobh Ramblers who were third.

A side from Wexford were last in the Premier Division back in 2016, when Wexford Youths, ironically, they were managed by Shane Keegan, now manager of Cobh Ramblers. They finished in 11th position that season and were drawn into a relegation play off where they were beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Drogheda Utd and were relegated straight back to the First Division.

James Keddy took over as manager at the start of the 2023 season and he has since given league debuts to 13 young players whilst amassing a youthful squad at Ferrycarrig Park.

They lost their last league game by 2-0 away to Galway Utd but will not be concerned with that result as they already had their fourth place secured regardless of the result at Eamonn Deacy Park last Friday night.

Wexford had full back Ethan Boyle selected on the First Division Team of the Year this week, they recently signed a partnership agreement with EFL League One side Reading FC and they can now cap a great end of season for the club if they overcome Ramblers over the two legs and make it to the Promotion Play Off Final.

COBH RAMBLERS

The Ramblers have certainly been one of the surprise packets of the First Division this season, winning 16 games, drawing 11 and only losing nine enroute to a 59-points total and a third-place finish.



They were one of the few teams to take points off the runaway leaders Galway Utd and Waterford, beating neighbours Waterford by 1-0 in June and following that up with a 1-1 draw at home to title winners Galway Utd a few weeks later.

They finished in eight (of ten teams) and ninth (last of nine teams) in the last two seasons so they have undergone a major transformation in performance levels since the appointment of Shane Keegan as manager in June 2022.

The club only joined the League of Ireland in 1985 after many years as a Munster Senior League side, but have been predominantly a First Division side with only four seasons spent in the Premier Division during the last 38 years.

Their last appearance in the top flight was back 2008.

They were held to a 1-1 draw in their last match against Kerry in Mounthawk Tralee but they were already assured of their third placed finish prior to that last league game and no doubt had one eye fixed on Tuesday’s crucial fixture against Wexford and the return leg in St Colman’s Park next Saturday Oct 28th, KO 5 pm.

Referee: Alan Patchell.



 

MATCH STATS

If league form is anything to go by this season, then the first leg semi-final in Farrycarrig is likely to be an extremely close affair.

These sides have met four times this season, and each of the two teams have scored eight goals, conceded eight goals and picked up five points from a possible 12 over the four games.

There have been two draws, (2-2 and 3-3), Wexford beat Cobh Ramblers by 2-1 at home, and Ramblers beat Wexford 2-1 at home.

Their performance levels also have been practically identical in the latter part of the season, with each side only losing three times in the last 15 games (league and cup fixtures).

BETTING

Wexford 6/4; Draw 23/10; Cobh Ramblers 6/4

 

PREDICTION

Wexford 2-1 Cobh Ramblers

Wexford

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None

 

Cobh Ramblers  

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Michael McCarthy.

Suspended: None.

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