League Preview: Wexford Youths -v- Cobh Ramblers

• Fran Reilly
• Fri, May 08 2015




WEXFORD YOUTHS

Last week's 4-1 win over Waterford United coupled with Finn Harps dropping points away to Cabinteely saw Youths close the gap between themselves and the Ballybofey side at the top of the First Division to just three points – though Harps remain unbeaten in league action in 2015.

 

Since losing 1-0 to Harps in Ferrycarrig Park, Shane Keegan's side have taken their frustrations out on both the Southsiders and the Blues, banging 11 goals past them in their last two games to double their tally for the season to 22 from nine league outings.

 

However, Keegan is fully aware of the turnaround in fortunes at St. Colman's Park since Stephen Henderson was re-appointed to the Cobh hotseat, and the Youths boss knows they will be a different prospect to the side which his team beat comfortably 4-1 back in March.

 

“I have no doubt that tonight's game represents one of our toughest challenges of the year,” Keegan told wexfordyouths.ie. “Having conceded just two goals in their last five games, it's clear that the turnaround has come on the back of implementing sound defensive principles and they have become really hard to break down.”

 

With the Rams' new found resilience in mind, Youths will once again look to all-time top goalscorer Danny Furlong for the goals to break the Rams down – his brace against United last week took his tally for the season to 12 and his league total for the club to 66 since he netted his first against Athlone Town in April 2008.

 

Furlong, though, does have a slight knee concern ahead of the game which makes him a slight doubt, while Dean Broaders is also doubtful with an achilles complaint. There is good news for Keegan, though, in that Craig Wall, Craig Comerford – both of whom made late cameo appearances against United despite initial doubts surrounding their involvement – and Eric Molloy, who missed the trip to the RSC entirely, have all come through training this week unscathed.

 

 

COBH RAMBLERS

Youths manager Shane Keegan was present to witness Cobh Ramblers' 1-0 win over Athlone Town at St. Colman's Park last week, and saw first-hand the doggedness which has been the undoing of every team to face the Rams since the return of Stephen Henderson to the club.

 

The Midlands club had plenty of opportunities to take something from the game, the best of which fell to Marco Chindea who seemed to have done everything right when rounding Cobh 'keeper Steven Hickey, but could only look on in despair as Brendan Frahill recovered to clear off the line.

 

The result extended the Rams' unbeaten run to five league games, three of which they've won 1-0 and two of which they've drawn 1-1 – but the younger of Cobh's two Darren Murphys knows that facing a Wexford Youths side bang in form will present the sternest examination of their resolve yet since Hendo's re-appointment.

 

“It will probably be one of our toughest tests so far because they've been running riot the last couple of weeks,” Murphy told Extratime.ie at the draw for the second round of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup. “They've been scoring a lot of goals, so I'm not too sure how it'll go, but we'll go there looking to win a game – we think we can win any game now at the moment. It'll be a tough test but we're confident enough to get a result.”

 

Henderson has suffered a blow to his plans ahead of this game, though, with the news that defender Andrew Bhandarkar has been ruled out of action for up to two months with a knee problem, joining other long-term injury victims Darren Murphy Snr. and Peter White on the sidelines. 

Shorter-term, Robert Lynch misses out again because of a hamstring complaint, while Robbie Waters is rated 50/50 with the same back problem which has forced him to sit out the last two games against Athlone and UCD.

 

Referee: Robert Hennessy.

 

 

MATCH STATS

Danny Furlong has scored twice as many goals as Cobh Ramblers this season.

 

Wexford Youths scored more goals in one match (seven, against Cabinteely) than Cobh have managed in the nine league games they have played this season (six goals in total).

 

Cobh haven't beaten Youths in seven matches in all competitions (six in the First Division and one in the EA Sports Cup). Their last victory against Youths came on June 29^th, 2013 when a brace from Conor Meade and a goal from Bobbi Donoghue saw the Rams claim a 3-0 win in front of a watching Roy Keane at St. Colman's Park.

 

Cobh Ramblers have never beaten Wexford Youths in a competitive game at Ferrycarrig Park. In the eight meetings between the sides there since Youths' introduction to the League of Ireland in 2007, Cobh have lost seven and drawn one (two of these games were EA Sports Cup ties).

 

 

BETTING

Wexford Youths 3/10; Draw 7/2; Cobh Ramblers 8/1.

 

PREDICTION

Wexford Youths 2-1 Cobh Ramblers

 

 

Wexford Youths

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Danny Furlong (knee), Dean Broaders (achilles).

Suspended: None.

 

Cobh Ramblers

Injured: Andrew Bhandarkar (knee), Robert Lynch (hamstring), Darren Murphy Snr., Peter White.

Doubtful: Robbie Waters (back).

Suspended: None.