League Preview: Shamrock Rovers B -v- Cobh Ramblers

• Macdara Ferris
• Sun, Apr 27 2014




SHAMROCK ROVERS B

The second quarter of the season begins for Shamrock Rovers’ First Division team with a game against Cobh Ramblers on Sunday (kick off 3pm). Colin Hawkins’ Hoops team were just two minutes away from winning on the opening night of the season in Cobh before letting in a late equaliser. It took until the last game in Tallaght for them to get that first win and that was a confidence boosting 2-1 victory over Longford Town.

 

Last week, it was the concession of an early goal from a corner that proved Rovers’ undoing in Waterford where they lost 1-0 at the RSC. The Hoops will be out to make it back-to-back home wins when they line out against bottom side Cobh Ramblers this weekend.

 

“It was an uphill battle conceding so early on in the game,” said Hawkins about the game in Waterford speaking to www.shamrockrovers.ie. “It was really disappointing and it’s something we have to work on. We’re learning the hard way giving away goals from set-pieces.”

 

“We were waiting for the first win (which came against Longford). We felt our performances deserved more points than we have. Not that it’s about points and winning games it’s all about development, but you’d like to think that we’d start picking up points starting against Cobh Ramblers.”

 

COBH RAMBLERS

Cobh travel to Tallaght Stadium for their first ever game in the venue still seeking their opening win in this season’s First Division. They haven’t scored in their last four games and have lost all four matches on the road so far in 2014. A win though would put them a point behind the Hoops in the SSE Airtritcity First Division league table.

 

It was a 2-0 defeat in their last outing, also in Dublin, with first half goals from First Division leaders Shelbourne doing the damage. The only other point earned by the Rams this season, after the opening night 1-1 draw against Rovers, was a 0-0 stalemate against Waterford United a fortnight ago.

 

Both managers have players from their under 19 teams in their squads. Martin Cambridge has Sean O’Mahony, Jonathan Creamer and Chris McCarthy (part of Cobh’s Enda McGill Under 19 Cup winning team), stepping up to their First Division squad.

 

Referee: Eoghan O’Shea.

 

 

MATCH STATS

Rovers reserve team boss Colin Hawkins lost six cup finals as a player - 2002 FAI Cup and 2004 League Cup with Bohemians, the 2005 Setanta Cup and 2006 League Cup with Shelbourne, the 2011 Setanta Sports Cup Final with Dundalk and the 2012 EA Sports Cup playing for Rovers. However as assistant manager with Shamrock Rovers last year, he took charge of Rovers for their Leinster Senior Cup final win over St. Patrick’s Athletic. Manager Trevor Croly was in Malmo that weekend reviewing the Scandinavian club’s football club structures prior to Rovers placing a team in the First Division this season.

 

From Hawkins’ squad Alan Kehoe and Sean Heaney have both made appearance with Rovers’ first team this season. Heaney has started the last three matches for Trevor Croly’s team including their 3-2 win on Friday evening in Drogheda.  

 

Daniel Purdy is top scorer for the Hoops with four league goalswhile only David Walsh, Robert Waters and James Carson have scored for the Munster men in the league.

 

 

BETTING

Shamrock Rovers B 8/13; Draw 13/5; Cobh Ramblers 4/1.

 

PREDICTION

2-0

 

 

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Conor O’Malley, Chris Lyons, Azeez Yuseff.

Suspended: None.

 

Cobh Ramblers

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Andrew Bhandarker.

Suspended: None.