- John O'Shea
- Wed, Mar 11 2015
Following what was a dramatic and entertaining game which went to extra time, it was Cobh Ramblers who progressed to the second round of the EA Sports Cup. It was a brisk cold evening for football but overall it was a decent game for those in attendance.
Both sides came into the match following home league defeats in their opening league games, with Cobh being defeated by UCD and Limerick by Bohemians. When you take that into consideration, this cup tie was a welcome distraction and it was a chance for the sides to get their season up and running.
The home side took the lead after six minutes, when Ronan Stanton was on hand to head home after a cross from the right hand side from Stephen Kenny. Credit must go to former Ipswich town player Shane O’Connor, as his magnificent cross field pass started the attacking move.
Limerick showed good character and responded well to going behind and they drew level in the 15th minute. Paul O’Connor’s ball over the top picked out Dean Clarke, who showed good composure to run into the box from where he put the ball into the back of the net with a cool finish.
Darragh Rainsford almost put the away side into the lead shortly after, when he cut in from the left wing and his shot went just wide of the top right hand corner of the goal.
The Shannonsiders continued to show some more attacking threat. Ian Turner went close from a 30 yard free, which sailed over the crossbar. This was during the middle of a spell which saw the visitors on top, both in terms of possession and going forward.
Ramblers were still a danger up front themselves. In the 35th minute, Stephen Kenny’s cross come shot came to Robert Waters just a few yards out, but he put the ball high and wide.
Cobh nearly got a second goal shortly into the second half. A good run from Kenny, who was impressive down the wing all night, crossed and Stanton was just unable to get the vital touch to put it past O’Donnell in the Limerick goal.
The game was real end to end stuff and Limerick again went close to going in front just before the hour mark, first Rainsford had his shot saved before Vinny Faherty shot skinned the post as it went just wide.
As the half went on, there was no lacking in work rate and effort as both sides went in search of a winner. However the final ball was just missing as the half reached its conclusion. So a winner however was not to come in the 90 minutes and so extra time was to be played.
Cobh Ramblers were to go back in front in the 95th minute, when Goldsmith would get a brilliant goal. He received the ball from wing back Murphy and his shot went into the top corner of the net from 30 yards out.
Cobh were the better side as extra time went on and they would have to wait long until they would get their third goal of the night. A cross from the left was dropped by Limerick keeper O’Donnell and on hand was substitute Kynan Rocks to tap in from close range.
Limerick though were to make sure that the game went down to the wire and they would close the gap to a single goal, when Paul O’Connor finished well from close range. However it wasn’t to be for Russell’s men who must now wait till 2016 for another crack at the EA Sports Cup.
Cobh Ramblers: David Browne; Eoghan Murphy, Graham Mc Carthy, Brendáin Frahill, Shane O’Connor; Audi Dunlea, Steven McCarthy (Ryan Goldsmith 74), Darren A Murphy, Stephen Kenny; Ronan Stanton (Kynan Rocks 87), Robert Waters (Jonathon Creamer 118).
Subs not used: Steven Hickey (gk), David Curran, Andrew Bhandakar, Ross Mc Carthy, Steven Hickey.
Booked: Eoghan Murphy (62).
Limerick: Conor O’Donnell; Sean Harding, Shane Costelloe, Aidan Price, Tony Whitehead (Conor Maguire 97); Paul O’Connor, Val Feeney, Darragh Rainsford (Ross Mann 72 ), Ian Turner; Vinnie Faherty (Shane Duggan 72), Dean Clarke.
Subs not used: Tommy Holland (gk), Sean Russell, Kieran Hanlon.
Booked: Feeney(52).
Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork)
Attendance: 200 (estimate)
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Stephen Kenny (Cobh Ramblers)
