League Preview: Cobh Ramblers -v- Shamrock Rovers B

• Gareth O'Reilly
• Sat, Mar 08 2014




COBH RAMBLERS

Cobh Ramblers get their 2014 season underway when they welcome Shamrock Rovers B team to Cork on Saturday evening (Kick-off 7.45pm).

 

No team news is available for Cobh Ramblers so it must be presumed that they have no injury concerns of note ahead of their season opener.

 

However the FAI have informed us that Cobh are set to be without the services of Brendan Frahill and Martin Deady for this clash due to suspension.

 

SHAMROCK ROVERS B

For the first time in League Of Ireland history a reserve team will compete in the First Division as Colin Hawkins travels south with his young but enthusiastic squad.

 

Many of the Rovers B team will be made up of players from their highly successful Under 19 team which sits second in the Under 19 Elite Division heading into the last few games of the season.

 

Speaking ahead of his debut as a manager in the First Division Colin Hawkins was in buoyant mood.

 

“Everyone is really looking forward to the game. The players that have come in from the Under 19s team are full of confidence having won their last six games in a row. And the rest of the lads that we have brought in specifically for this team are rearing to go. They haven’t had a game in a good while, so they just want to get playing again.

 

“We were down in Cobh some weeks ago with the Under 19s, so we know it is a tough place to go and we expect an equally tough test on Saturday night.”

 

In injury news for the Tallaght based club Hawkins will be forced to attempt to navigate past Cobh Ramblers without the services of goalkeeper Shane Fagan who has a quad injury.

 

Adam Whelan is also unavailable for selection as he has only just recovered from a long lay off caused by a hamstring injury. The only other absentee will be Muhanned Bukhatwa who still has another week to go before he achieves full fitness after spending some time on the treatment table recently with a groin injury.

 

Referee: Sean Grant

 

MATCH FACTS

This will be the first ever game by a B team in the League of Ireland.

 

Cobh’s record league victory was as recently as 2007 when they smashed Kilkenny for 7.

 

PREDICTION

Rovers B team should have enough to overcome Cobh on a score line of 2-1.

 

Cobh Ramblers Injury News: Unavailable

Cobh Ramblers Suspension News: Brendan Frahill, Martin Deady

 

Shamrock Rovers B Injury News: Adam Whelan (hamstring), Muhanned Bukhatwa (groin), Shane Fagan (quad)

Shamrock Rovers B Suspension News: None