Padraic Cunningham in action against Shelbourne earlier this season. Cunningham scored his first goal of the season last weekend. Credit: Paul Dolan (ETPhotos)
League Preview: Cobh Ramblers -v- Galway United
- Paul Corcoran
- Fri, Apr 30 2021
COBH RAMBLERS
Cobh Ramblers will be looking for their second win of the First Division season when they host Galway United at St Colman’s Park on Saturday evening (kick-off 7pm).
Ramblers 1-1 draw with Bray Wanderers at home last week has the Rams on a three game unbeaten run with Charlie Lyons scoring from the penalty spot to give Stuart Ashton’s side a point after Wanderers had opened the scoring.
Ashton is pleased with his side’s performance so far this season, but the manager recognizes the challenge Galway pose this Saturday evening.
“We’ve grown into the season over the last three games, going unbeaten in those,” Ashton said, speaking to the club’s media team.
“We can still do better. Last week against Bray we didn’t play as well as we can do.
“We matched them for effort, for closing them down, we just needed a bit more composure in the final third.
“The lads were disappointed to only come out with a draw, having come from a goal behind, which shows great character.
“Maybe in times gone by we wouldn’t have come out of that situation. We’re taking the positives and we’ve got to keep building on those.
“Obviously, we would like more points on the board but it it is what it is. It’s still early doors and hopefully we’ll do that.
“If we let Galway play, they will. They can be a tough nut to crack. We have to be on our game.
“We’ve worked on things in training, on how to stop them. These are hard games and everyone has to battle to win the game. One little moment, the bounce of a ball, can make you a loser or a winner.”
Pierce Phillips, Stephen O’Leary, Regix Madika are all sidelined through injury for this weekend’s game.
Caelin Rooney has completed his suspension but a heel injury will see him go through a late fitness test. Ben O’Riordan is also likely to miss out with his recovery not quite complete in time for the match with Galway.
GALWAY UNITED
The Tribesmen are yet to secure a victory on the pitch this season with just three draws from four games played in 2021.
Manager, John Caulfield will at least be pleased by the fight shown by his team in their previous two games when they came behind to claim draws against both Treaty United and UCD.
The game against UCD finished 2-2 with Galway coming from behind twice to secure that result with Ruairí Keating and Padraic Cunningham both getting on the scoresheet for Galway.
Caulfield recognises that there are no easy games in this year’s First Division.
“Cobh is always a tough place to go,” Caulfield said, speaking to the club’s media team.
“They are on a great run of form and Stuart Ashton is an experienced manager. We know what a good side Cobh are and they are a well-established team in the First Division.
“They would have been disappointed to not make the playoffs last season. They have been very strong for the last number of years and have been highly competitive.
“They will expect to do the same this year as the club have huge ambitions to get out of this division.
“As I keep saying, every week is a tough challenge. We have to be ready for each game. Last week’s performance against UCD was our best performance of the season so far.
“The team showed great togetherness and great character to come back from being down in the last two games.
“We have been conceding a few sloppy goals so we have been working on that in training. Obviously, we want to be winning matches.”
Francely Lomboto is still sidelined with a long term injury, while Conor O’Keeffe will miss out again.
Referee: Gavin Colfer
MATCH STATS
Ramblers are uneaten in two games against Galway with Cobh winning one of the meetings last season and the sides drawing the other.
United last beat Cobh in September 2019 when they thrashed Ramblers 7-1 with Marc Ludden scoring four times.
The Tribesmen have gone four games without a win coming into this weekend’s fixture.
BETTING
Cobh Ramblers 23/10; Draw 23/10; Galway United 19/20.
PREDICTION
Cobh Ramblers 1–2 Galway United
Cobh Ramblers
Injured: Pierce Phillips, Stephen O’Leary, Regix Madika.
Doubtful: Caelin Rooney, Ben O’Riordan.
Suspended: None.
Galway United
Injured: Francely Lomboto, Conor O’Keeffe.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
About Paul Corcoran
Paul Corcoran is an experienced writer and journalist and has contributed to various publications including the Galway United match programme Maroon View. He spends much of his time covering the fortunes of Galway United's teams …