League Preview: Cobh Ramblers -v- UCD

COBH RAMBLERS

Cobh Ramblers play their last home game ‘away from home’ when they host UCD in Cork City’s ground in Turners Cross on Friday night, 7.45 pm KO.

The Ramblers have an agreement in place with the FAI and the Munster FA (owners of Turners Cross) to use City’s home stadium for a number of home games whilst waiting for the completion of a major upgrade to their own St Colman’s Park (installation of a new state-of-the-art astroturf pitch, new LED floodlighting and new pitch surround). The game with UCD will be their last at the Cross and they expect to be back at St Colman’s Park for their home game with Longford Town on Monday, 1 April.

The Rams lost their opening game of the season but have been unbeaten in their last three outings. They had a high scoring 3-3 draw against Athlone Town at the Cross recently and followed that up with an excellent 1-0 away win at Finn Harps.

They would have expected to have got all three points away to Kerry in their last outing at Mounthawk, Tralee but fell behind to a 70^th minute Ryan Kelliher and were grateful for an 75^th minute James O’ Leary equaliser and a share of the points.

UCD

UCD were relegated from the Premier Division last season and are one of the sides expected to be quickly back in the promotion race in the 2024 season.

They have made a reasonably good start to the season, sitting on six points in fourth place with two wins and three losses to date. They are one place higher on the table that the Ramblers in fifth but with an extra game played.

They will come to Cork in high spirits after their resounding 3-0 home win against Athlone Town last weekend.

Ciaran Behan, Mike Raggett and Jake Doyle were on the score sheet for the Students at the Belfield Bowl.

Doyle, along with defender Adam Wells and goalkeeper Kian Moore were also selected on the SSE Airtricity League First Division Team of the Week, while UCD manager Wille O’ Connor was also named Manager of the Week

Referee: Jason Moore

MATCH STATS

These two sides did not meet in a competitive league fixture since the 2021 season when both were last together in the First Division.

The only recent game between the two sides was in the FAI Cup in July 2023 at the Belfield Bowl when the students, then under manager Andy Myler, won by 3-2.

UCD’s goals came from Jack Keaney (now with Drogheda Utd), a Brendan Frahill own goal and Daniel Norris (still with UCD).

Dale Holland and Waterford Utd loanee Dean Larkin netted for the Rams

BETTING

Cobh Ramblers 13/10; Draw 23/10; UCD 17/10.

PREDICTION

Cobh Ramblers 2-1 UCD

Cobh Ramblers 

Injured:  None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

UCD

Injured: Ronan Finn

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None