- Philip Morrissey
- Thu, May 27 2021
COBH RAMBLERS
Cobh Ramblers aim to get their season back on track as they take on fierce local rivals Cork City on Friday night at St Colman’s Park (kick-off is at 7.45pm).
Both sides would have hoped to be placed higher than they are currently.
Cobh in particular, have yet to gain a win at home and only ahead of Wexford in the table.
But their manager Stuart Ashton refused to feel sorry for themselves: “Unfortunately, we find ourselves where we are. There are great things being done off the pitch, in the community.
“Unfortunately, on the pitch it isn’t going our way, but we have to keep driving forward and believing in ourselves.”
He believes they are a match for anyone though.
“It’ll be the same on Friday night, they’re a good team.
“As everyone saw when we played them in the opening game, we were the better side on the night. The defeat was hard to take.”
Ian Turner reiterated that point. “For us owe it to ourselves, to everyone to stand up and be counted and put in a performance.
“They’re a good team, we’ve seen enough of them to know what we’re up against.”
CORK CITY
Cork might be just one place ahead of Cobh at the moment but are gradually coming to terms with the league. Last week’s draw with Galway was their fourth game unbeaten.
Colin Healy knows to expect a major challenge though. “It’s going to be a very difficult game. It always is when we play against Cobh, and especially down in St Colman’s Park.
“Stuart will have them well drilled. As you saw in the game in Turner’s Cross, they are organised and had a good game plan.”
The concession of a late goal at Turners Cross denied City an important win last weekend – and he emphasised the importance of concentration ahead of this Cork Derby.
“We were caught – that happens sometimes in football, but we just need to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.”
Jonas Hakkinen agreed with this: “At the start of the season we had been letting in some unnecessary goals, but in the last four we’ve only conceded one, so we’re cleaning things up back there.
“Last week we did let in an easy one, but hopefully we’ll sort that out going forward.”
Referee: Alan Patchell.
MATCH STATS
The home-side have to go all the way back to February 1995 for the last time they saw a win at home over City as John O’ Rourke netted in a 1-0 victory at St. Colman’s Park.
BETTING
Cobh Ramblers 12/5, Draw 12/5, Cork City 10/11
PREDICTION
Cobh Ramblers 0-2 Cork City
Cobh Ramblers
Injured: John Kavanagh, Pierce Phillips, Stephen O’ Leary, Regix Madika.
Doubtful: Ciaran Griffin, Caelin Rooney.
Suspended: None
Cork City
Injured: Steven Beattie, Josh Honohan.
Doubtful: Gearoid Morrissey, Rob Slevin.
Suspended: None.
