Cobh denied first away win of season
SOCCER
Daire Walsh
SHELBOURNE……………………………………… 1
COBH RAMBLERS………………………………… 1
PHILIP HUGHES came to the rescue of Shelbourne at Tolka Park last night, as Cobh Ramblers were denied their first away triumph of the current SSE Airtricity League First Division campaign.
Cobh were hoping to build on last week’s performance against Waterford United, when a Darren Murphy goal helped Stephen Henderson’s charges to claim all three points.
Murphy featured in the starting line-up alongside debutant James Furlong, but owing to a variety of reasons, Ramblers were only able to name three players on their substitutes’ bench.
They were also facing a Shels side that had recorded four consecutive league victories prior to Tuesday night’s 2-1 reversal away to UCD, but with former Liverpool Academy star Shane O’Connor linking up effectively with Ryan Goldsmith and Kynan Rocks (who was playing in a lone striker role), there was plenty of industry in the Cobh team.
Shels were causing a number of problems for the Cobh back-four, though, and the energetic Dylan McGlade forced a fine fingertip save from netminder Stephen Hickey eight minutes into the contest.
The Drumcondra outfit posed a considerable threat in wide areas, and courtesy of an excellent delivery from the left-flank by Gareth Coughlan, Hughes fired just over Hickey’s crossbar on the half-volley.
The bustling Hughes is currently enjoying his third spell with Shels, and at the mid-way point in the half, he once again forced Hickey into action with a powerful strike from distance.
With Daire Doyle pulling the strings in midfield, Shels were forcing Cobh on the back-foot, although Greg Murray needed to be on his toes to save O’Connor efforts in the 14th and 25th minutes respectively.
Indeed, Cobh always looked dangerous in possession, and just shy of the half-hour mark, they ultimately broke the deadlock.
Stephen Kenny was picked out by O’Connor on the right-hand side, and after wrong-footing Murray with a delicate first-touch, he coolly slotted the ball into the bottom left-corner of the opposition goal.
This was a major morale boost for Cobh on their fourth trip of the season to Dublin, and after soaking up some late pressure from the Shels attack, they brought a one-goal advantage into the second period.
The introduction of winger Conor Earley for full-back Darragh Gannon completely changed Shels’ shape after the restart, and this provided a significant challenge to Cobh.
Initially, Ramblers dealt with this alteration in admirable fashion, before the hosts started to increase the tempo of their play.
Hughes was marginally wide of the mark 11 minutes into the half, and Hickey displayed superb agility to divert Gareth Coughlan’s curling strike away from the target two minutes later.
An under-hit clearance by the Cobh custodian placed his defence under pressure just past the hour mark, however, and he was mightily relieved to see Mark Sandford’s powerful drive rebounding off the woodwork and away to safety.
Yet, this only offered a temporary reprieve to the visitors, and from an inch-perfect cross on the left-wing, Hughes headed home in clinical style at the back-post.
With parity now restored, the momentum was with Shels, and Coughlan’s 64th-minute free-kick drifted agonisingly past Hickey’s right-hand post.
To the credit of Cobh, they eventually weathered the Shels storm, and O’Connor was starting to break forward with purpose.
The influence of Goldsmith was growing as well, and his strong run opened up space for Kenny seven minutes from time.
He was denied a second by Murray, but thanks to strong defensive work in the closing stages of this encounter, Cobh did emerge with a draw.
SHELBOURNE: Greg Murray; Darragh Gannon (Conor Earley 46), Adam O’Connor, Sean Heaney, Evan Osam; Dylan McGlade, Daire Doyle, Craig Walsh, Gareth Coughlan; Philip Hughes (Alan O’Sullivan 84), Mark Sandford.
COBH RAMBLERS: Stephen Hickey; Adam O’Sullivan, Brendan Frahill, James Furlong (Daniel Barry 70), Kevin Mulcahy; Stephen Kenny, Graham McCarthy, Shane O’Connor, Darren Murphy, Ryan Goldsmith; Kynan Rocks (Chris McCarthy 64).
Referee: Andre Arciola (Malta).