- Stephen Walsh
- Sun, May 29 2016
Cobh Ramblers easily defeated Munster neighbours Waterford United this afternoon at a sunny St. Colman’s Park.
Ramblers lead by a goal at half time but three second half goals ensured that Ramblers would collect all three points and keep up their push for a top three spot this season.
The opening stages of the game were devoid of much action as both teams tried to suss each other out. Rob Lehane going off with an ankle injury was the first thing of note to happen in the game.
Ramblers should really have gone ahead on 24 minutes when Stephen Christopher’s through ball found Gustavsson, who rounded the advancing Burns before seeing his shot cleared on the line by Colum Nugent before Shane O’Connor saw his rebound deflected out for a corner.
Waterford had a great chance when Sean Byrne’s cross was headed narrowly wide by Anthony McAlavey on 27 minutes
But Cobh weathered the opposition’s attacks and found themselves ahead on 36 minutes when O’Connor’s cross was finished to the net by Gustavsson.
The remainder of the half saw both sides have shots but there was to be no change to the score line.
Waterford took off Darren Murphy at the break and they lost a lot of shape in the centre of the park as he was winning a lot of possession with the result that Cobh was able to punish their Munster neighbours.
First up O’Connor played in McGreevy and he shot wide on 49 minutes but they weren’t- going to make the mistake again and they did it two minutes later with McGreevy finishing to the net from close range.
Abbott had a shot to score but went wide yet Cobh weren’t yet and they made it three on 64 minutes. It was their best goal of the three on the day and it all happened on the counter attack. O’Connor played a ball over the top to Creamer who won the footrace against the defender to play the ball into Mylod who finished from close range.
Waterford had some chances to close the gap but they never troubled Paul Hunt save for a few long shots.
O’Connor had a shot from distance pushed out for a corner by Burns but the home side still had time for another on 90 minutes when Kevin Burns hesitated and Creamer capitalised lobbing the ‘keeper to seal a very comprehensive victory.
Cobh Ramblers: Paul Hunt; Charlie Fleming, Ben O’Riordan, Christopher McCarthy, Ian Mylod; Cian Kingston, Jason Abbott; Rob Lehane (Stephen Christopher 19, inj), Shane O’Connor, Eoin McGreevy (Kevin Mulcahy 58); Marcus Gustavsson (Johnathan Creamer 45)
Subs not used: David Browne, David Curran
Yellow Cards: Kingston (55), Abbott (68), Creamer (84)
Waterford United: Kevin Burns; Dean Reidy, Ian Sinnott, Colum Nugent (Shane Mackey 56), Sean Byrne; Robert Buckley, David O’Leary, Darren Murphy (Aaron O’Connor 45), Dylan McGuire; Philip Gorman, Anthony McAlavey
Subs not used: Eoin Rhodes, James Dermody, Roy Butler, Richard Tobin, Corey Chambers
Yellow Cards: None
Referee: Mark Lynch
Attendance: 251
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Shane O’Connor (Cobh Ramblers)
You can see Steve Alfred's pictures from the game here.
