Late, late heartbreak for Cobh’s U19s
U19 SOCCER
Daire Walsh
Bohemians 4
Cobb Ramblers 3
THERE was heartbreak for the Cobh Ramblers U19s at IT Blanchardstown on Saturday afternoon, when a stoppage-time goal from winger Dean Casey ensured Bohemians progressed in the SSE Airtricity U19 National League Cup.
Ramblers entered this contest on the back of a difficult run of form in the U19 Southern Division, and although their netminder Andrew Kingston turned away an early shot from Bohs’ Jamie Hollywood, they subsequently fell behind with 12 minutes gone on the clock.
Ryan Graydon delivered an enticing corner from the left-hand side, and after Cobh failed to clear the danger, centre-half Warren O’Hora fired home from close-range.
This was an early set-back for Ramblers, and Bohs deservedly doubled their lead just shy of the half-hour mark.
The hosts had initially breathed a sigh of relief when Casey’s firm drive ricocheted off the foot of the Cobh post, but centre-forward Adrian Pastuska was on hand to finish off the resulting rebound.
The introduction of Cal Sheehy to the right-wing enabled the lively David Grant-O’Sullivan to revert to a central role, and it paid dividends for Len Hackett’s charges seven minutes into the half.
Sheehy was picked out in space by Stuart Murphy, and he displayed great composure in finding the bottom left-hand corner of the Bohs goal. This offered Ramblers a new lease of life, and on 63 minutes, they restored parity to the tie.
Defender Cian McCarthy headed home a supremely-executed Grant-O’Sullivan set-piece, but even though Bohs were struggling to impose themselves against a rejuvenated Ramblers, they moved back into the ascendancy 15 minutes from time.
Kingston couldn’t collect a dangerous corner by Casey, and the alert O’Hora claimed his second goal of the game with a neat strike. Bohs were aiming to push on at this stage, but they were once again left reeling, as left-winger Murphy got the better of opposition custodian Luca Kratzer with an unstoppable 81st-minute drive.
Extra-time was now beginning to loom large – only for Casey to beat the helpless Kingston four minutes into time added on off his trusty left-foot.
BOHEMIANS U19: Luca Kratzer; Conor Byrne, Warren O’Hora, Scott Lawless, Paddy Kirk (Darragh Brennan 68); Cian Flynn, Owen Evans (Fionn Byrne 78), Jamie Hollywood, Dean Casey; Adrian Pastuska (Dylan Travers 60), Ryan Graydon.
COBH RAMBLERS U19: Andrew Kingston; Killian Murphy, Cian McCarthy, Jordan Tarrant-Lowry (Theo Gibbons 65), Kyle McNamara; David Grant-O’Sullivan, Matt Murray, Sean Cooke, Stuart Murphy; Timmy Foley (Cal Sheehy 46), Chris Coleman.