Cobh Ramblers 1 - 1 Cork City

A Ross Gaynor penalty with three minutes remaining earned Cobh a somewhat undeserved but helpful point at St. Colemans Park against a far superior Cork City in a game which was overshadowed by the financial problems surrounding both clubs.

It was Cork who bossed the game throughout and Alan Matthews side must surely feel disappointed at another 1-1 draw in which they were the ones to take the lead. Especially since it’s the fourth time in twelve days that Cork have not held out for a win after going a goal-up.

Cork, created the majority of the chances with Lawrie Dudfield having the first opportunity after 5 minutes when Joe Gamble played the ball over the top but Dudfield played the ball straight into the hands of James Mc Carthy in the Ramblers goal.

Cobh thought they had scored after 10 minutes but it was disallowed by referee Damian Hancock after Ray Lally swung in a corner which was punched into the net by Graham Cummins, who was then booked for the offence. Darragh Ryan hit in a corner which found Dan Murray free but the Cork captain’s header was put wide with 20 minutes on the clock.

However three minutes later Cork City took the lead, Danny Murphy played in Kearney and the wingers left-footed shot was blocked but the ball fell to Lawrie Dudfield who tapped the ball in to the Ramblers net for his first goal for the club he signed for in July.

Cork had the ball in the net again on the half hour mark when Darragh Ryan’s corner was met by Seán Kelly at the backpost, he headed to Dan Murray who bundled the ball into the net but Damian Hancock gave a free out. Darragh Ryan hit a thunderbolt shot narrowly wide with 8 minutes remaining before half time after good work from Joe Gamble out on the left.

Cork started off where they left before the break. Darragh Ryan laid the ball off to Darren Murphy whose curling effort was tipped over the bar by James Mc Carthy almost immediately after the restart.

Shane Guthrie was booked after taking down Darren Murphy on the edge of the area but Neal Horgan’s free kick came back off of the wall with 55 on the clock while Cobh also had an opportunity when Ross Gaynor hit a well struck free kick narrowly wide after 69 minutes.

Joe Gamble went close with a little over a quarter of an hour remaining with a thunderous strike from 25 yards out but it was turned over the bar by McCarthy, the busier of the two goalkeepers throughout.

Cobh had a good opportunity in the 82nd minute when John Kearney played the ball in from the left to Kevin Murray but his header went to the wrong side of Mark Mc Nulty’s right hand post.

With three minutes remaining Seán Kelly brought down substitute Daryl Kavanagh and gave Cobh the chance to equalise despite being under pressure for the majority of the game and Ross Gaynor did just that with a sweetly taken penalty, sending Mc Nulty the wrong way.

This result now leaves Cork back in fifth place while Cobh remain in the relegation zone a point behind fellow- strugglers UCD. Cork face Dungannon in the Setanta Cup on Monday night while Cobh return to league action with a trip to the Showgrounds in Sligo next weekend.

Cobh Ramblers: James McCarthy; Kenny Coleman, Shane Guthrie, Kevin Murray, John Meade; Davin O’Neill (Michael Mulconry 90), Greg O’Halloran, John Kearney, Ray Lally (Daryl Kavanagh 67); Graham Cummins (Alan Kearney 79), Ross Gaynor.
Subs not used: Conor Meade, Stephen Mulcahy.

Cork City: Mark Mc Nulty; Neal Horgan, Dan Murray, Seán Kelly, Danny Murphy; Darren Murphy, Colin Healy (Billy Woods 90), Joe Gamble, Darragh Ryan (Denis Behan 71); Liam Kearney, Lawrie Dudfield.

Subs not used: Pat Sullivan, Alan O’Connor, Gareth Cambridge.

Referee: Damien Hancock.

Attendance: 1,850

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Joe Gamble (Cork City).