SOCCER
Students teach Cobh a lesson
UCD…………………………………………………. 3
COBH RAMBLERS…………………………………. 0
Daire Walsh
A strong second-half performance proved to be essential for UCD in Belfield last night, as Cobh Ramblers were on the receiving end of a three-goal defeat in their 22nd SSE Airtricity League First Division encounter of the season.
Ramblers were in fine form heading into the contest, after back-to-back victories over Cabinteely and Waterford United were followed by a hard-earned 2-2 draw at home to promotion-chasing Shelbourne seven days ago.
This run of results helped to move Cobh up to fifth position in the second-tier domestic table, just two places behind UCD.
Indeed, Ramblers supremo Stephen Henderson kept faith with the same starting 11 from the Shelbourne game, and with Jason Abbott joining Chris McCarthy and Shane O’Connor in central midfield, they passed the ball confidently in the opening moments of the action.
Yet, the hosts eventually settled into the proceedings, and an intervention was required from reliable Cobh centre-half Brendan Frahill seven minutes in, when UCD full-back Ryan McLaughlin delivered an enticing cross into the penalty area.
Michael Leahy also produced a save from visiting netminder Eoghan Daly, and even though Frahill tested UCD’s Niall Corbet from a Shane O’Connor corner, Cobh found themselves on the back-foot for the majority of the half.
O’Connor, Ryan Goldsmith and lone striker Stephen Kenny did offer a considerable threat when Cobh counter-attacked, but the away side received something of a let-off on the stroke of 25 minutes when UCD winger Chris Mulhall was off-target with a free header from close-range.
However, the back-peddling Corbet later prevented a bizarre own goal at the opposite end of the pitch, and after losing the services of the influential Tomas Boyle to injury, some of the sting was taken out of UCD’s play.
They continued to pose some problems for Cobh in the closing stages of the half, but thanks to strong work in defence, the St Colman’s Park outfit ensured that the teams were on level terms at the mid-way point.
UCD were certainly rejuvented upon the resumption, though, and just three minutes into the half, a fine strike on the turn by Jack Watson was saved by the feet of Daly, who was relieved to see Conor Cannon shooting over the top from the resulting rebound.
Unfortunately, this only offered a temporary respite to Cobh, who ultimately fell behind with 50 minutes gone on the clock. Robbie Benson had been a major creative force for UCD, and after discovering a gap through the heart of the Cobh rearguard, he calmly found the bottom left-hand corner of the Ramblers goal.
Ryan Goldsmith was a bright spark for Cobh when they managed to break into enemy territory, and he forced an excellent low save from Corbet.
Just past the hour mark, UCD doubled their advantage. McCarthy was dispossessed inside his own half by Benson after receiving a short pass from Hallahan, and the outstanding midfielder unselfishly picked out Ryan Swan, who had a simple finish from six yards.
Bobbi Donoghue (who recently rejoined Cobh from Waterford United) appeared from the bench with just over 20 minutes remaining, but UCD continued to provide the greater attacking threat. They completed a fine evening’s work 13 minutes from time, when Benson fired home from Swan’s neat pull-back for his second goal.
Cobh will be aiming to bounce back in a fortnight’s time, when they will welcome Athlone Town to St Colman’s Park.
UCD: Niall Corbet; Mark Langtry, Tomas Boyle (Maxi Kouogun 28), Michael Leahy, Ryan McLaughlin; Jack Watson, Gary O’Neill, Robbie Benson, Chris Mulhall; Conor Cannon (Eoin Kirwan 85); Ryan Swan (Dylan Watts 80).
COBH RAMBLERS: Eoghan Daly; Adam O’Sullivan (Graham McCarthy 78), Brendan Frahill, James Furlong, Anthony O’Donnell; Jason Abbott; Stephen Christopher, Chris McCarthy (Bobbi Donoghue 69), Shane O’Connor, Ryan Goldsmith (David Curran 82); Stephen Kenny.
Referee: Robert Hennessey (Limerick).