Cobh Ramblers 1 - 3 Sligo Rovers

Following their five nil defeat to local rivals Cork City last week, many were expecting Cobh Ramblers to come out this Saturday against Sligo Rovers and straight away show what they were capable off. It didnt work out that way, or some may say it did, as Sligo were two goals to the good after just nine minutes. A third followed early in the second half and although Kieran O'Reilly pulled one back ten minutes from time, it wasn't enough to stop Sligo from picking up their first win in six games.

The home side were without the suspended Kevin Murray and Michael Mulcorney. Manager Stephen Henderson was again banned from the touchline. Davin O'Neill was dropped from the squad as a result of a training ground incident. As is now the norm, Ramblers didn't include a keeper among their substitutes. Sligo were without Fahrudin Kuduzovic - he is expected to sign for Drogheda Utd on Tuesday, however there has been late interest from a couple of English clubs. Full backs Seamus Coleman and Chris Butler returned from suspension.

With the game just three minutes old winger Sean Doherty gave the visitors the lead. Anto Murphy played a long ball in behind the Cobh defence and Dohertys shot from just inside the box took a wicked deflection off Alan Carey and looped over the stranded James McCarthy.

Alan Kearney was adjudged by referee Derek Tomney to have handled the ball in the penalty area five minutes later. Romo Boco took the spot kick but Ramblers keeper McCarthy pulled off a fine save, low down to his left. A minute later Sligo made up for the miss and went two ahead. The move started on Sligos left. Conor O'Grady received the ball infield and slipped in Anto Murphy. The former St Pats player kept his composure and finished neatly from the edge of the box with his right foot.

Cobh looked to get back into the game quickly, and came close on three occasions, thanks to Sligo keeper Richard Brush. He first flapped at an Alan Carey cross when under pressure from Brian McCarthy. A minute after that he raced from his line, body checked O'Reilly and conceded a corner, however it could have very easily been a penalty. He came to collect the corner kick, but got nowhere near it. Brian McCarthy nearly profited, but his back post header went off target.

Murphy could have had a second after twenty minutes. Boco received the ball wide on the left from Butler and teased Carey before whipping in a dangerous cross. Shane Guthrie looked like he had matters under control but the ball found its way to a surprised Murphy - however he didn't react quick enough, the ball hit him, and a grateful McCarthy saved with ease.

Cobh then twice came close to scoring their first goal in four games. Ray Lally, making his first start of the season, did well on the left and delivered an excellent early cross into the box. O'Reilly neatly got between the Sligo centre backs, but his powerful header rebounded off the back of Peers and Brush was able to collect. Carey then had a free kick from twenty five yards smack the underside of the crossbar and bounce to safety.

Kenny Coleman was introduced at half time and Cobh straight away could have taken the lead, but Graham Cummins sent his header wide of the upright. Ramblers search for an early second half goal left them vulnerable at the back to a counter attack.

Murphy received the ball with his back to goal in the centre circle and turned neatly before releasing Boco. The Benin international tussled with Guthrie and just when it looked like Boco was about to come out on top, he hit the ground a couple of yards short of the eighteen yard box. It looked unintentional from Guthrie, however as he was the last man he was lucky to escape with just a caution. Credit to Tomney for applying common sense to the situation.

Two minutes after that, and five minutes into the second half, Sligo scored their twentieth goal of the season. Boco escaped his marker and headed home Dohertys corner kick. Another quick break nearly saw Sligo make it four nil. Doherty was again involved - he found Raf Cretaro on the left and Murphy should have done better with his header from the former Galway players cross.

Cobh came to life for the final twenty five minutes, Cummins met a Carey cross at the near post, but his hooked effort looped just over the crossbar - Brush looked to have been beaten. With just over ten minutes to go O'Reilly got the goal that his hardworking performance deserved.

A slip in the heart of the Sligo defence allowed the former Rockmount player in, and from just inside the box he drove a low shot into the corner of the net. But for an excellent save by Brush, Sligo would have then conceded a second. Carey crossed from the right and Cummins directed a powerful header towards the top corner - Brush adjusted his footing quickly and then pushed the ball away for a corner.

With the game in injury time O'Reilly and Cummins exchanged passes, but the former's shot from the edge of the box went straight at Brush.

Cobh Ramblers: James McCarthy; Alan Carey, Shane Guthrie, Brian McCarthy, John Meade; Michael O'Shea (John Meade 66), Alan Kearney (Ken Coleman 46), John Kearney, Ray Lally; Graham Cummins, Kieran O'Reilly.
Subs not used: Alan King, Shane Barrett, Declan Cahill.

Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush; Seamus Coleman, Gavin Peers, Mauro Almeida (Jamie McKenzie 19), Chris Butler (Matthew Judge 60); Sean Doherty, Conor O'Grady, Danny Ventre, Raffaele Cretaro; Anto Murphy (Brian Cash 76), Romauld Boco.
Subs not used: Pat Jennings, Gary Curran.

Referee: Derek Tomney.

Attendance: 750 (estimate).