- Bar OSullivan
- Sat, Jul 05 2008
Shamrock Rovers and Cobh Ramblers played out an entertaining scoreless draw at Tolka Park on Friday night. Rovers were hoping to make it three wins out of three in all competitions, whereas Cobh were hoping they could put a four game losing run to an end. The home side slightly shaded things over the ninety minutes, however having said that, they were only to create one clear cut opening.
Barry Ferguson was suspended for Rovers, so Pat Scully chose Pat Flynn to fill in for him at centre back. Corey Treacy returned to the starting line up at left back. Tadhg Purcell was again utilised on the right side of midfield. Cobh manager Stephen Henderson was still serving a touchline ban, so he took up an isolated position in the empty Riverside stand. Kevin Murray returned from suspension to replace Brian McCarthy at centre back and new loan signing Colin O'Brien made his debut in midfield alongside John Kearney. Davin O'Neill was back after being dropped last week for Ramblers game against Sligo Rovers.
Both sides looked nervous during the opening exchanges. John Kearney fired over from twenty five yards for Cobh, while Padraig Amonds effort from a Sean O'Connor cross was easily saved by James McCarty. The former St Pat's winger saw his fair share of the ball in the opening twenty minutes, but was ultimately unable to do enough with it.
Rovers best chance of the game came midway through the half. Purcell did well to retain possession on the right, and then slipped a neat ball to full back Ger O'Brien. O'Brien crossed deep from the by-line and Dessie Baker really should have done better with his header from six yards - it smacked against the crossbar. Ger O'Brien got forward again a couple of minutes later - his near post cross nearly caught McCarthy out, the keeper just managed to push the ball around the post. From the resultant corner Aidan Price shot wide.
Cobh responded with a series of corners and a period of pressure. From a half cleared corner Colin O'Brien volleyed over the bar from just outside the box. Kieran O'Reilly provided a teasing cross after thirty minutes, but Barry Murphy did well to smother the ball at the feet of Graham Cummins. O'Neill then nearly got on the end of a back post cross - he did however force another corner. Colin O'Brien struck another volley from a half cleared corner - this one struck what looked like the arm of a Rovers defender, however there were no serious penalty claims. Amond then acrobatically cleared off the line from an O'Neill header, before Murray sent a header wide of the upright when he got on the end of yet another Ramblers corner.
Early in the second half Ray Lally set O'Reilly free with a delightful through ball. O'Reilly did everything right, and was just about to get a shot off from eighteen yards, but Rovers captain Price somehow managed to make up the ground and made a perfectly timed tackle.
Amonds looping effort on the hour mark came close to giving the home side the lead. Five minutes later Mark Leech, signed on Thursday from Galway Utd, replaced Amond. Cobhs Lally tried his luck from distance, but his left footed effort swerved wide of the upright.
It was all Rovers for the final five minutes. McCarthy saved Sean O'Connors weak shot easily, and was then nearly caught off-guard when Price struck a surprise volley from thirty five yards. The Cobh keeper managed to parry the dipping ball and was fortunate nobody was able to convert the rebound. McCarthy was then quick off his line to close down Purcell, and with the game in injury time he managed to tip Ger O'Briens cross from the right away for a corner. Cobh cleared the corner and referee Dave McKeon brought the game to an end.
Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Ger O'Brien, Pat Flynn, Aidan Price, Corie Tracey; Dessie Baker, Darragh Maguire, Danny O'Connor, Sean O'Connor; Tadhg Purcell, Padraig Amond (Mark Leech, 65).
Subs not used: Karl Coleman, Darren Stapleton, Eric McGill, Eoin Doyle.
Booked: Maguire.
Cobh Ramblers: James McCarthy; Alan Carey, Shane Guthrie, Kevin Murray, John Meade; Davin O'Neill (Stephen Mulcahy 69), Colin O'Brien, John Kearney (Ken Coleman 73), Ray Lally (Alan Kearney 80); Kieran O'Reilly, Graham Cummins.
Subs not used: Shane Barrett, Conor Meade.
Booked: Carey, Lally.
Referee: Dave McKeon
Attendance: 1,034
