- Patrick O'Connor
- Sat, Mar 23 2024
Patrick O’Connor reports from Turners Cross
There was heartbreak for Cobh Ramblers when they were on the way to collecting all three points when 1-0 up against UCD - only to lose 2-1 and leave Turner's Cross empty handed.
Ramblers were the much better side for the majority of the game but once again the precarious nature of a 1-0 lead was all too evident and so it proved to be the case with the students taking all three points on the night.
Ramblers did have multiple half chances, particularly in the second half, but they found Kian Moore in fine form in the UCD goals and were to rue these missed chances later on.
The visitors started the game very brightly and applied a lot of pressure on the Ramblers defence, with Ciaran Behan in particular causing anxious moments for both Cian Browne and Justin Equaibor.
They won a lot of corners early on but never really tested Darragh Burke in goals but they thought they had made a breakthrough in the 22nd minute when for a moment it looked like they had won a penalty.
Daniel Norris squirmed away from Brendan Frahill in the box and they went down under his late challenge, but referee Jason Moore saw it very differently and in fact booked Norris for diving.
Ramblers were very sluggish in the opening period but gradually grew into the game as it progressed and in fact finished the game the stronger of the two sides.
Their best chance arrived in the 37th minute when David Bosnjak was through one on one with the UCD keeper but he failed to hit the target and pulled his shot wide of the post.
The sides were level 0-0 at the half time break.
The Rams started the second half very much on the front foot and had claims for a penalty turned away in the 48th minute.
They did take a well-deserved lead in the 64th minute when Mathew McKevitt chested the ball down to Jack Larkin and he half volleyed home to make it 1-0.
They should have added to that single goal but were unable to do so and their hearts sank in the 89th minute when the ever dangerous Behand slotted past Darragh Burke from close range to make it 1-1.
It went from bad to worse for the Rams in injury time when Adam Wells forced home the winner from close range to make it 2-1 to UCD.
This was the last kick of the game as the referee blew for full time immediately after the kick off, the Ramblers supporters were left both stunned and silent as they trooped out of Turner's Cross.
Cobh Ramblers: Darragh Burke; Cian Browne, Justin Eguaibor, Breandán Frahill; David Bošnjak (Beineón O'Brien-Whitmarsh 83), Dale Holland (Dan McKay 83), Dean Larkin, Jack Larkin, James O'Leary; Jason Abbott, Matthew McKevitt (David Eguaibor 85).
Subs not used: Cathal O'Hanlon, Dan Ryan, Charlie O'Brien, Alessandro DeSanctis, Pierce Phillips, Liam Kervick.
Booked: Dale Holland (37), Jason Abbott (79).
UCD: Kian Moore; Ciaran Behan, Alex Dunne, Harvey O'Brien, Adam Wells; Harry Curtis, Donal Higgins, Daniel Norris (Mikey McCullagh 60), Adam Verdon (Seán Brennan 73); Jake Doyle (Hugh Parker 73), Michael Raggett (Danú Kinsella-Bishop 73).
Subs not used: Dara Kavanagh, Niall Holohan, Colin Bolton.
Booked: Daniel Norris (22), Adam Verdon (62).
Referee: Jason Moore
Attendance: TBC.
extratime.com Player of the Match: Ciaran Behan (UCD).
