- Alan Smith
- Sat, May 25 2013
A quick fire brace nearing half-time from Enda Curran gave Salthill Devon their first win of the season at St Colman’s Park and, in the meantime, closed the gap on Cobh Ramblers at the bottom end of the table to five points.
In a first half sparse on decent opportunities, the opener arrived five minutes before the interval when Curran weaved his way in between John Meade and Breandáin Frahill to drive home from eight yards.
And although they had failed to hit the target prior to then, it took Salthill just another three minutes to double their lead through Curran again. This time the Ramblers defence pushed up too high and after the lively striker broke clear, under little pressure he calmly lifted the ball over Robert Birdsall’s head.
Cobh's best chance of the opening half had come from Kynan Rocks, the right winger drilling over from the edge of the area on 22 minutes after a Martin Deady lay-off.
However, the absence of top scorer Conor Meade through injury left Ramblers struggling up top. Pinning their entire hopes on Davin O'Neill they found little joy, but with hope wearing thin, they were given a lifeline eight minutes from time when Craig Harding was sent off for a second yellow.
They were then awarded a penalty just over a minute later when Deady was taken down by goalkeeper James Keane and the wide man made no mistake, taking the penalty himself and cutting the deficit in half.
Ramblers piled everything forward in the closing stages but to no avail as the Galwegians held out for a vital win.
Cobh Ramblers: Robert Birdsall; Adam Thompson, John Meade, Breandain Frahill, Cian Murphy; Martin Deady, Andy Bandharkar, Roy Kenny, Kynan Rocks; Davin O’Neill, Jonathan Spillane (Alan O’Flynn 68).
Subs not used: Ian Long, Shane Hallahan, David Curran, Gary Collins, Keith O'Flynn, David Walsh.
Salthill Devon: Jason Keane; Robbie Gaul, Cian Fadden, Eugene Greaney, Jamie McGlynn; Willie Enubele, Mike Harty (Colm Horgan 73), Graham Kelly, Jakub Tomanica; Enda Curran (Jean Biansumba 85), Craig Harding.
Subs not used: Jason Murphy, Stephen Rodden.
Referee: Shane Dunphy (Wexford).
Official attendance: 407
ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Enda Curran (Salthill Devon).
