- Andrew Dempsey
- Mon, May 06 2024
Andrew Dempsey reports from the UCD Bowl
Matthew McKevitt’s 62nd minute strike was enough for Cobh Ramblers to claim a 2-1 fightback victory over UCD at the Belfield Bowl on Monday evening.
Ramblers have now won three of their last four games by virtue of their latest victory.
Jake Doyle gave the Students an early lead when he found the net. But goals from Jack Larkin and McKevitt claimed three points for Gary Hunt’s side who are now just five points off the play-off positions.
Coming into the game following a hard-fought 1-0 win over Longford Town on Friday night, UCD boss Willie O’Connor made four changes from their success over the basement side.
Dara Kavanagh made his debut after being drafted in for Kian Moore, while Harry Curtis, Alex Dunne and Adam Verdon started in place of Donal Higgins, Niall Holohan and Luke O’Regan.
But despite the changes, the Students started well and were ahead inside just eight minutes.
Eanna Clancy’s long ball from defence was knocked down to Doyle after a tussle between Charlie O’Brien and Mikey Raggett.
And Doyle was on hand to pounce as he cracked in a low deflected effort that deceived Darragh Burke in the Ramblers goal.
UCD then had a chance to double their advantage minutes later through Raggett.
The former Shamrock Rovers attacker was in the right place at the right time following some good play from Sean Brennan in midfield - but he leaned back too much and skied his effort over the bar.
By this point Cobh were struggling and Alex Dunne was the next to go close for the hosts after some brilliant hold-up play from Doyle - but the full-back was off balance when he shot and sent his effort over the bar.
Ramblers however started to come into the game as the half-time whistle approached with Jason Abbott cracking a shot from distance just wide of Kavanagh’s goal.
But their leveller came on the stroke of half-time as Jack Larkin found the net with an improvised finish.
The former Waterford youngster was found by Cian Browne’s superb ball from the left and sorted his feet out to beat Kavanagh - although the UCD keeper will think he should have saved as the side’s went in level at the interval.
Ramblers thought they took the lead just moments into the second half when Jack Larkin rolled a fine finish into the net - but he was adjudged to have been offside.
Raggett then had a glancing header that went wide for the hosts, although the Students found themselves behind in the 62nd minute.
Striker McKevitt was the man who netted for the visitors when he coolly scored after being played in by a deft through ball from lively Cobh winger James O’Leary.
Stephen Mohan was brought on by UCD manager O’Connor ahead of the closing stages - and he almost equalised before he was denied by a last-ditch block by a Cobh defender.
James O’Leary then threatened a third for the visitors when his free-kick just clipped over the bar following a deflection.
As the game entered injury-time, Cobh looked comfortable but still had to withstand some late pressure from the visitors to claim all three points.
And in doing so, they look in fine fettle ahead of Friday’s crunch Leeside derby against league leaders at St Colman’s Park.
Paul Dolan's gallery can be viewed here.
UCD:Dara Kavanagh; Éanna Clancy, Harry Curtis, Alex Dunne (Luke O'Regan 66), Adam Wells; Seán Brennan (Donal Higgins 66), Mikey McCullagh (Stephen Mohan 76), Adam Verdon; Jake Doyle, Hugh Parker (Adam Brennan 81), Michael Raggett (Danú Kinsella-Bishop 66).
Subs not used:Kian Moore, Cathal McCarthy, Niall Holohan, Colin Bolton.
Cobh Ramblers:Darragh Burke; Cian Browne, Breandán Frahill, Dean Larkin, Charlie O'Brien; Jason Abbott, Dale Holland, Jack Larkin (Nolan Evers 89); Matthew McKevitt (David Bošnjak 79), Beineón O'Brien-Whitmarsh (Liam Kervick 23), James O'Leary (Dan McKay 89).
Subs not used:Senan Dorgan, Alessandro DeSanctis, Michael McCarthy, Justin Eguaibor, Tiernan O'Brien.
Booked:Dale Holland (64).
Referee:Mark Houlihan (Dublin).
Attendance:202.
extratime.com Player of the Match:Jack Larkin (Cobh Ramblers).
