Cobh Ramblers 1-0 Shamrock Rovers

Cobh Ramblers became the third side in the relegation zone to register a home win this weekend, seeing off the challenge of Shamrock Rovers by a goal to nil. Super-sub Daryl Kavanagh weaved his way into the box eleven minutes from time, only to be brought crashing to the ground by visiting keeper Robert Duggan. Ross Gaynor kept his cool and converted the spot kick.

The result moves Cobh to within four points of fourth from bottom Finn Harps, and gives them every chance of avoiding a straight return to the First Division. This was a game that Rovers probably should have gotten at least a point from, however sooner of later this season Cobh were going to have get the rub of the green, and that's exactly what happened on Saturday night.

Sean O’Connor was easily the away side’s man of the match. The former St Pats man started as a second striker in the absence of Joey Ndo, and was involved in everything good about Rovers. As early as the first minute he found space and set up Eoin Doyle to shoot straight at James McCarthy. It was his corner after six minutes that Aidan Price headed high and wide from six yards, and before twenty minutes of the game had elapsed he had created another opening for Doyle, as well as having three strikes at goal himself.

Cobh's first chance of the game fell to Davin O'Neill. Kenny Coleman intercepted a stray pass just inside his own half, and having time to survey his options and carry the ball forward, chose to bring Alan Carey into the move on the right wing. Carey curled a delightful, inch perfect ball into the box, but from maybe just eight yards out, O'Neill struggled to bring the ball under his full control, and that gave covering defender Ger O'Brien just enough time to prevent the former Cobh Wanderers man from getting a shot in - indeed O'Brien may well have fouled him in the process.

Aidan Price, returning to the Rovers side after a recent shoulder injury, had to be brave midway through the half when he managed to clear just before Colin O’Brien was about to get a shot in. A few minutes later Michael Mulcorney evaded the sliding challenge of O'Brien and tried his luck from just outside the box, but Duggan saved comfortably.

Sean O'Connor was again the danger man, when after a quick free kick he released Tadgh Purcell, but McCarthy held the strikers shot well. Rovers should have gone ahead ten minutes before the break. Winger John Martin crossed from the right, but Purcell headed wide, having not been able to connect as sweetly as he would have wished. If the cross had a little less on it, left sided midfielder Doyle had made a great dash to the front post, and would have had a free header from a great position.

The half finished with Sean O'Connor again being allowed too much room, but his shot from twenty five yards was well blocked.

Early in the second half, substitute John Kearney nearly picked out Ross Gaynor with an intelligent curling ball from deep on the right, however after taking the Rovers defence out of the game, it skidded away from the Ardee native on the greasy surface.

Sean O'Connor flashed an ambitious volley wide after fifty minutes. Moments later he spun away from his marker in the centre circle, and with Cobh a man or two short at the back, stroked a neat ball into the path of Doyle's run. Shane Guthrie tripped him, and received a caution, but if such a thing exists, it was a good yellow to get. Sean O'Connor's effort from the resulting free kick was weak.

O'Neill had a half chance in the box just after the hour mark, but Rovers managed to clear his volleyed cross come shot. O’Neill then cleverly turned Price in the box and got to the byline, but fluffed his attempt at goal.

Either side of Kavanagh’s introduction on sixty six minutes, Rovers had two great chances. Purcell had a shot from the right side of the box well saved, before Sean O'Connor volleyed a cross from the left over the crossbar from just seven or eight yards out.

Ramblers failed to get Kavanagh involved in the right positions for his first thirteen minutes on the field, but the pacy attacker made up for it when he picked up possession just outside the box. He ghosted into the area, took the ball past Duggan, and was sent tumbling to the ground by an outstretched arm. Gaynor had no problem scoring from twelve yards - his third goal for Ramblers since joining during the summer transfer window.

Rovers could have levelled matters just two minutes later, but Simon Madden’s volley came back off the angle of post and crossbar. Kavanagh then had a near post header from a corner kick cleared off the line in the dying minutes.

Cobh Ramblers: James McCarthy; Ken Coleman, Shane Guthrie, Kevin Murray, John Meade; Alan Carey, Colin O'Brien (Daryl Kavanagh 66), Greg O'Halloran, Michael Mulconry (John Kearney 38); Ross Gaynor (Graham Cummins 87), Davin O'Neill.
Subs not used: Conor Meade, Alan Kearney.

Shamrock Rovers: Robert Duggan; Ger O'Brien, Aidan Price, Simon Madden, Corie Treacy (Mark Leech 84); Pat Flynn, Jonathan Martin (Padraig Amond 56), Danny O'Connor, Sean O'Connor; Eoin Doyle (Darren Stapleton 76), Tadhg Purcell.
Subs not used: Barry Murphy, Eric McGill.

Referee: Richie Winter.

Attendance: 690