League Report: Cobh Ramblers 2-0 Limerick FC

Cobh Ramblers finally broke Limerick’s 24 league match unbeaten run at St. Colman’s Park on Saturday night. The Cork based side are now serious contenders for the play off places going on this performance where they outclassed a poor Limerick side.

Limerick had beaten Cobh on their previous encounters in the league this season but from the off it was clear that Ramblers were more hungry to collect the three points on offer.

The home side dominated the opening 45 minutes but couldn’t find the net but this changed in the second half with a goal each from Shane O’Connor and Rob Lehane to guide Cobh to victory.

Limerick played most of the second half with ten men after Shane Duggan had been dismissed but it made little difference to the final score line.

Cobh Ramblers made one change to the side that beat Waterford United 3-1 last Saturday night in St. Colman’s Park with Shane O’Connor recovering from injury to take the place of inform striker Connor Ellis.

Limerick on the other hand made two changes with Tony Whitehead and Stephen Kenny starting in place of Paudie O’Connor and Garbhan Coughlan respectively from the side that clinched a late draw against Shelbourne in Tolka Park.

The home side knew that a win here would help to keep them firmly in the hunt for a playoff spot, after closest rivals UCD had defeated Waterford United 8-1 24 hours previously.

With this in mind they played a very attacking game for the opening ten minutes but couldn’t find a break through; Lehane fired wide on four minutes while Garry Comerford saw his powerful shot saved well by Freddy Hall.

Their centre midfield pairing of Craig Donnellan and Comerford were winning plenty of possession as Limerick’s duo of Shane Duggan and Lee J Lynch failed to get up to speed with the game.

Even as the half wore on Ramblers, backed by a vocal home support, continued to get the better of the chances with Lehane and Eoin McGreevy both firing narrowly wide from the edge of the box as Limerick failed to threaten at the other end of the pitch.

The half ended with Ramblers in the ascendancy as referee John McLoughlin blew the half time whistle.

McGreevy had the first shot of the second half when his 25 yard shot stung the hands of Hall but the rebounded effort was easily gathered.

Yet they had their best chance of breaking the deadlock on 53 minutes when Charlie Fleming’s excellent cross was headed off the post by O’Connor from ten yards.

But the home side kept trying and got their reward on four minutes later when O’Connor picked the ball up in space to fire home from 25 yards as ‘keeper Hall fumbling the ball into the net.

Limerick’s chances of getting something from the game were not helped moments later when their captain Duggan was sent off for a tackle on Craig Donnellan.

Lehane has thrived in recent games for Ramblers and the former Cork City striker made it two with a well timed dribble down the line before seeing his initial shot saved by Hall only for him to fire home the rebound.

The rest of the match was a procession with Cobh enjoying plenty of possession much to the home supports delight as they loudly sung “Champions of Munster” to the opposition’s support, but the fans will still dream of singing “Playoff champions” in a few weeks time.

Cobh Ramblers: Paul Hunt; Ben O’Riordan, Chris McCarthy, Kevin Mulcahy, Ian Mylod; Charlie Fleming (Stephen Christopher 80), Garry Comerford, Craig Donnellan, Eoin McGreevy (Anthony O’Donnell 93); Shane O’Connor; Rob Lehane (Connor Ellis 80).

Subs not used: Matthew Whelan, Darren Murphy, Kyle McNamara, James McSweeney

Yellow Cards: Donnellan (30), Fleming (53), Comerford (62)

Limerick: Freddy Hall; Paul O’Connor, Tony Whitehead, Robbie Williams (Killian Brouder 86), Shane Tracy; Lee Lynch (Shaun Kelly 68), Shane Duggan; Stephen Kenny, Aaron Greene, Sean Russell; Chris Mulhall (Garbhan Coughlan 68).

Subs not used: Tommy Holland, Ross Mann, Sean McSweeney, Clyde O’Connell.

Yellow Cards: Mulhall (59), Kenny (82), Greene (87)

Red Cards: Duggan (64)

Referee: John McLaughlin

Extratime.ie man of the match: Shane O’Connor (Cobh Ramblers)

Attendance: 467