- Paul Corcoran
- Sat, Sep 26 2020
Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park
Galway United saw their five-game winning streak under John Caulfield halted on Friday night as Cobh Ramblers ran out 1-0 winners at Eamonn Deacy Park.
A first-half goal from Ian Turner made the difference as the visitors snapped their own three-game losing streak.
The Rams came close to taking the lead in the seventh minute as Charlie Lyons stuck a head on a Dave Hurley corner kick but a schmozzle of Galway defenders managed to get in the way.
Lyons got a second bite of the cherry with a shot directly after and Mikey Place was the Galway man who made the stop in this instance.
Ramblers did not have to wait long for their opener with Galway showing weakness from another corner-kick situation and Turner profited to give the visitors at ninth-minute lead.
Failing to deal with the ball as it came into the box, Ian Turner took charge, swung his foot through the ball and drove it into the bottom corner for the lead.
United has their first shot on target in the 14th minute after a long ball up the field was controlled by Christopher.
The midfielder cut inside and quickly squared the ball to Enda Curran just outside the box, but the striker’s effort was not quite strong enough to challenge Barron in the Cobh goal.
Ramblers had a gilt-edged chance to double their lead on the half hour when a goal kick from Barron made its way to just outside the Galway box.
Galway’s defenders hesitated in dealing with the ball, allowing Lee Devitt have a swing at it. His effort was poor though, and Kevin Horgan made an easy save.
Just before half time, Turner crossed a lovely ball deep into the box towards the head of Naythan Coleman, who tried to loft his header into the goal but lifted the ball just above the crossbar.
Galway started the second half on the front foot and Place collected the ball on the right flank, after a long searching ball from the defence, and nipped it across to Duggan.
The midfielder’s booming long-range effort was straight at Barron, and the keeper was able to slap the ball away and prevent a stunning goal.
A mistake from substitute goalkeeper Matthew Connor almost allowed Darryl Walsh an easy goal for the visitors in the 70th minute.
Hurley struck the ball towards the far post with Connor missing as he tried to punch the ball away. Walsh came very close to netting but he nodded the ball just wide of the goal.
Some great individual work from Wilson Waweru deep in the final third and towards the left wing allowed the forward work the ball to Christopher.
The former Cobh man found Substitute Vinny Faherty in the box with a good cross but the striker’s header was too lofty to bother Barron.
A bad night turned worse for the home side just before the end of the 90 minutes when Place saw red for a horror challenge on John Kavanagh.
Galway United: Kevin Horgan (Matthew Connor 46); Timo Parthoens, Cian Murphy, Jack Lynch, Killian Brouder; Sam Warde (Vinny Faherty 72), Carlton Ubaezuonu (Timmy Molloy 56), Stephen Christopher; Mikey Place, Enda Curran (Wilson Waweru 57).
Subs not used: Wilson Waweru, Caoilfhionn O’Dea, Timmy Molloy, Christopher Horgan, Donal Higgins, Vinny Faherty, Matthew Connor.
Booked: Shane Duggan (38), Enda Curran (45), Timo Parthoens (84),
Sent off: Mikey Place (89).
Cobh Ramblers: Sean Barron; Darryl Walsh, Charlie Lyons, John Kavanagh, Naythan Coleman (Conor Drinan 62); Ian Turner, Greg Henry, Lee Devitt Molloy, Darragh Crowley (Christopher O'Reilly 81); David Hurley.
Subs not used: Kevin Taylor, Gavin Ryan, Christopher O'Reilly, Stephen O'Leary, Conor Drinan, Cathal Crowley, Martin Coughlan.
Booked: David Hurley (45) ,Pierce Phillips (50) ,Darryl Walsh (84)
Referee: Gavin Colfer
Attendance: 100.
Extratime.ie Player of the Match:Dave Hurley (Cobh Ramblers).
