EA Sports Cup Preview: Cobh Ramblers -v- Longford Town

COBH RAMBLERS

It’s an all-First Division clash in the quarter-finals of the EA Sports Cup as Cobh Ramblers host Longford Town for the second time in four days at St Colman’s Park on Tuesday evening (kick-off 7.30pm).

Cobh Ramblers went into Saturday night’s clash against Neale Fenn’s Longford Town on the back of three successive home defeats in their as a poor start to the First Division campaign has seen the Rams fall away from the promotion picture very early on.

In keeping with their poor run, Stephen Henderson’s side fell to another home defeat on Saturday night as Longford Town’s midfield star Sam Verdon put the ball into the back of Paul Hunt’s net which consigned Henderson’s charges to another home defeat.

The result left Cobh a big ten points outside of the playoff hunt which, at this stage of the season, looks a big gap as their league fixtures come up thick and fast ahead of the mid-season break in June.

However, Henderson’s Rams will be on the lookout for a morale-boosting EA Sports Cup win over their First Division rivals as a win here could potentially grant Ramblers with an exciting day out in the semis against top Premier Division opposition.

In the last round of this cup competition, Ramblers stunned Premier Division representatives Limerick in the Munster Derby with a late, late winner at the Markets Field as Ben O’Riordan nodded home to seal a place in the quarter-finals.

Cobh will be forced to contend without the services of Charlie Fleming who limped off injured against Longford while John Dineen is a doubt for Tuesday nights encounter in the EA Sports Cup having missed out on Saturday night’s defeat down on the south coast. 

LONGFORD TOWN

Longford Town will be on the lookout for a third away cup win on the bounce as they look set to rack up another incredible 520km back and forth journey to St Colman’s Park.

It was sweet revenge for De Town in the last round of the EA Sports Cup as Neale Fenn and his young playing squad masterminded a fantastic 1-0 win at Tallaght Stadium while taking the game to a much-changed Shamrock Rovers side.

It was a night to remember as it kick-started Longford’s recent good run of away form as the midlanders now are in the midst of a three-game unbeaten run away from home with league and cup wins over Cobh Ramblers and UCD in recent weeks.

Longford do, unlike Cobh Ramblers have recent history in winning this cup competition as the red and black team of 2004 secured the club’s first ever league cup win after falling so agonisingly short in 2003 against St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park.

However with two long trips down to Cobh in such a short space of time, it will be a real test Longford Town’s collective strength as Fenn will be out to replicate his side’s 1-0 success on Saturday.

Fenn will have to manage without the services of long-term absentees Shane O’Connor and Alan Kehoe while Aodh Dervin and Cian Byrne will also miss out on the trip to the south coast with ankle injuries.

Despite the evident injury issues, full-back Shane Elworthy and winger Peter Hopkins are both likely to feature having just returned to the fold on Saturday night as the duo occupied the bench for De Town.

Referee: Anthony Buttimer

MATCH STATS

Longford are unbeaten against Cobh so far this season with Neale Fenn’s side playing out an entertaining 2-2 draw at City Calling Stadium on the opening day of the season before the midlanders ran out 1-0 winners at St Colman’s Park on Saturday night. 

Cobh have yet to register a home league victory in 2018 following defeats against Finn Harps, UCD, Longford Town and Drogheda United at the County Cork venue. 

Cobh Ramblers and Longford Town do have a quite remarkable recent history in scoring goals against one another as in the last six league game games between the pair of them, there has been a goal scored in every 34 minutes at either the City Calling Stadium or St Colman’s Park.

BETTING

Cobh Ramblers 13/5; Draw 9/4; Longford Town 10/11.

PREDICTION

Cobh Ramblers 1-2 Longford Town

Cobh Ramblers

Injured: Charlie Fleming.

Doubtful: John Dineen.

Suspended: None.

Longford Town

Injured: Aodh Dervin, Shane O’Connor, Alan Kehoe, Cian Byrne.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.