League Preview: Cobh Ramblers -v- Shelbourne

• Simon O'Gorman
• Thu, Jun 12 2014




COBH RAMBLERS

Cobh are enduring an unhappy season in the SSE Airtricity First Division and are rooted to the foot of the table at the half-way point of the season with just three points to show for their efforts so far.

 

Martin Cambridge’s side ended a run of seven straight defeats when they held Longford Town to a scoreless draw two weekends ago, only the third time this season that the Rams have avoided defeat. And with just three draws from 15 league and cup outings they have a major task on their hands to avoid defeat at the hands of a Shelbourne side that have lost only twice in the league this year.

 

All of Cobh’s points have been earned at home with three draws and three defeats from their six games at St Colman’s Park but the Ram’s fans have seen only two goals scored at the hilltop venue. James Carson scored on the opening weekend against Shamrock Rovers B and George Gill hit the target in the 5-1 defeat to Galway FC at the end of May.

 

Meanwhile, the Cobh defence have had a torrid time, leaking 32 goals in league matches. Galway have really gone to town on the Cork side, winning 4-0 and 5-1 in their two meetings while Finn Harps also scored five against them when they met back in March.

 

 

SHELBOURNE

While Shelbourne travel to Cobh as the First Division leaders, sitting four points clear of second placed Galway FC, they haven’t won in their last three league outings. Draws against Shamrock Rovers B and Finn Harps were followed by a 4-2 defeat at home to Galway two weekends ago and there is a sense that the Reds’ claim on automatic promotion may be under some threat.

 

Johnny McDonnell’s side claimed an impressive 17 points from the opening round of seven games but only eight have been gathered from the six games played so far in the second round. Shels have won three of their six away games this year, drawing twice and suffering defeat just the once, when a 93rd minute goal by Eric Molloy saw them lose out to Wexford Youths at Ferrycarrig Park.

 

In front of goal Shelbourne have performed well in 2014, with 19 goals scored in 13 matches, almost four times the hit rate of their hosts this Friday night. In fact Shels have only drawn a blank on two occasions - that defeat in Wexford and more recently in a scoreless draw with Shamrock Rovers B. Given Ramblers’ paltry strike rate, the Reds may only have to score once to take the points.

 

McDonnell will be without the injured duo of Willo McDonagh and John Sullivan for the trip south while Shane Dolan has left the club having made just two league appearances since he joined at the start of the season.

 

Referee: Robert Hennessey

 

 

MATCH STATS

Only four players have scored for Cobh this year with Rob Waters, having bagged two, topping their scoring chart.

 

Cobh haven’t put two unbeaten games together in the league since last July when defeat to Salthill Devon ended a run of four games without defeat.

 

Shelbourne’s last league visit to St Colman’s Park was in August 2007 when the sides drew 1-1.

 

 

BETTING

Cobh 6/1; Draw 7/2; Shelbourne 4/11.

 

PREDICTION

Cobh 0-3 Shelbourne

 

 

Cobh Ramblers

Injured: Unavailable.
Doubtful: Unavailable.
Suspended: None.

 

Shelbourne

Injured: Willo McDonagh, John Sullivan.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.