McCarthy happy with fine team effort
U17 SOCCER
Daire Walsh
FOLLOWING his side’s excellent 1-0 win against Shamrock Rovers in the SSE Airtricity League Southern Elite Division in Tallaght on Saturday, Cobh Ramblers’ U-17 manager Ethan McCarthy was delighted with the defensive display.
The St Colman’s Park outfit have only conceded 14 goals in their 15 games, and McCarthy praised every member of the team for putting their shoulders to the wheel throughout the contest.
“We just spoke about that. I don’t think our goalkeeper really has any big saves to make throughout the whole game.
“The few crosses that came in he deal with, but I can’t remember Shamrock Rovers having any shot on goal, which is a credit to the whole team,” McCarthy remarked after the game.
“Not just the back-four. The whole team, defensively, we held our shape very well and we’re very happy. If you look at the league table, I think we’ve got the best defence record in the league, which is a credit to the players.”
The crucial moment of the tie arrived in the 6th minute of play, when Stephen O’Leary found the back of the Rovers net from close-range. McCarthy acknowledged that Ramblers have hit the ground running in a number of their games, and once they gain the ascendancy, they are very difficult to break down.
“Yeah, it’s after happening the last few games now. We’ve got off to a good start. To be fair, as I just said, when we get the first goal, we’re very hard to break down.
“If you look through the results again, we haven’t lost too many. The only game I think we conceded a few was Limerick. We scored three, and they scored three. Other than that it’s all 1-0, 2-0. We’re very happy.”
Thanks to this win over Rovers (who they will also face in the U17 Mark Farren Memorial Cup quarter-final), Cobh have moved into the top-four of the league. Given the way their 2015 campaign developed, McCarthy is eager to take each game as it comes, but does feel they are capable of a positive result at home to UCD next Sunday.
“I suppose, we’re taking each game as it comes. I think at the start of the season people would not believe Cobh Ramblers would be up there after where they finished last season.
“We finished bottom of the table last season, and to do what we’re doing at the moment. Our last loss was against Cork City, I can’t remember how long ago.
“UCD next week, doesn’t get any easier. They’re second in the table, but we’re at home. Again I think, if we can perform well, we’d fancy our chances,” McCarthy added.