SOCCER
Daire Walsh
SHELBOURNE…………………………………… 0
COBH RAMBLERS………………………………. 1
Daire Walsh
EVAN GALVIN was the hero at Tolka Park last night, when Cobh Ramblers kick-started their SSE Airtricity League First Division season with a hard-earned triumph over Shelbourne.
Cobh had finished the 2015 season with a 3-0 defeat to Shels in the same venue, but with Paul Hunt, Cian Kingston, Rob Lehane, Ian Mylod and Evan Galvin all making their debuts, the visitors had a fresh look for their latest trip to Dublin.
Indeed, with Jason Abbott and Kingston combining well in midfield, Cobh created a brace of excellent opportunities in the sixth and seventh minutes respectively. A close-range header from centre-half Kevin Mulcahy was tipped over the bar by Shels’ netminder Greg Murray, and from the subsequent corner, a flick on by former Cork City striker Lehane was cleared off the line.
It was proving to be an extremely lively opening to the proceedings, and with 11 minutes gone on the clock, Shels’ defender Ryan Robinson forced Hunt into action for the first time on the night.
However, Cobh were agonisingly close in their quest to break the deadlock just six minutes later. A sublime free-kick from Abbott found its way to Mulcahy on the left-hand side, and his subsequent diving header was spectacularly diverted over the woodwork by the impressive Murray.
A Cian Kavanagh set-piece from the edge of the box at the end of the first-quarter was dealt with expertly by the Cobh back-four, and although Shels always looked dangerous in attack, they were struggling to break down the stern opposition defence.
Shels’ Aidan Collins was narrowly off-target 10 minutes before the break, but when the half-time whistle was sounded, the sides ultimately remained scoreless. With the three points still up for grabs, it was a typically fiery start to the second period.
Cobh drew first blood eight minutes into the half. A cross by the always influential Shane O’Connor on the right-flank found its way to Lehane, and although his strike from 12 yards was blocked, Evan Galvin was on hand to fire the ensuing goalmouth scramble beyond the reach of Murray.
This placed the onus on Shels to come out and attack their Leeside counterparts, and the excellent set-piece deliveries by Kavanagh certainly kept Cobh on their toes. English connected well with his corner from the right-wing on the hour, but much to the relief of Ramblers, it drifted past the right-hand post.
Jamie Doyle was also wide of the mark with his first significant opportunity, and after Hunt parried a cross 20 minutes from time, the rangy left-winger missed a gilt-edged chance to restore parity to the game.
This looked like being a costly miss for Shels, as Cobh were awarded a penalty from the resulting attack – after the lively O’Connor was upended inside the area. O’Connor stepped forward to the penalty spot himself, but the dependable Murray was equal to his efforts.
A second goal may well have placed the outcome beyond doubt, and O’Connor was once again denied by Murray when he was put through in the 76th-minute. With Shels desperately seeking an equaliser, Cobh were hoping to exploit them with sharp counter-attacks. In fact, they broke with purpose eight minutes from the end, and after linking up brilliantly with O’Connor, Evan Galvin was thwarted by the base of the right-hand post.
Substitute Cory Galvin (who joined his twin brother Evan on the field in the second half) forced another fine save from Murray, with Mulcahy continuing to lead by example at the back.
SHELBOURNE: Greg Murray; Adam O’Connor, Ryan Robinson, Aidan Collins, Alan Kehoe (Sodiq Uguntola 87); Gavin Boyne (Carl Walshe 77), Daire Doyle, Cian Kavanagh; Lorcan Shannon, James English, Jamie Doyle (Dylan Kavanagh 73).
COBH RAMBLERS: Paul Hunt; Graham McCarthy, Kevin Mulcahy, David Curran, Anthony O’Donnell (Cory Galvin 61); Jason Abbott, Cian Kingston; Evan Galvin (Adam O’Sullivan 91), Shane O’Connor, Ian Mylod; Rob Lehane (Markus Gustavsson 78).
Referee: Robert Hennessey (Limerick).