Super sub O’Leary ensures Cobh finish in style
U17 SOCCER
CABINTEELY FC………………………………. 0
COBH RAMBLERS…………………………….. 3
Daire Walsh
SUBSTITUTE Stephen O’Leary helped himself to two goals at Stradbrook yesterday afternoon, when Cobh Ramblers finished off their U17 Airtricity League Southern Elite Division campaign with a comprehensive victory over Cabinteely FC.
Because of Shamrock Rovers’ superior goal difference, fifth-place Ramblers will miss out on a spot in the end of the season play-offs, but with a total of 13 wins under their belt, it has proven to be a productive 2016 for Ethan McCarthy’s side.
The visitors who ultimately broke the deadlock on 17 minutes, when winger Ryan O’Regan was on hand to finish off a close-range rebound – after Ross Slevin had an initial shot turned away. This was a significant confidence boost for Ramblers, and they were close to doubling their lead on the stroke of 20 minutes – as skipper Gordon Walker had an effort cleared off the line by the retreating home defence.
Eoin Davis and Matt Lamb were also narrowly off-target with subsequent attempts, but although Cabinteely attacker Zak O’Neill kept them on their toes in the latter stages of the half, Cobh held a one-goal advantage at the mid-way point.
There was a sense that the next goal was going to have a huge bearing on the outcome, and the introduction of O’Leary and Alex Connolly provided a fresh approach to the Cobh attack. Alex Smith had an agonising miss just past the hour mark, but the Leesiders finally created further daylight between themselves and their Metropolitan counterparts 20 minutes from time. A long-ball over the top by the excellent O’Regan put O’Leary through on goal, and after flicking the ball beyond the onrushing Farrell, he comfortably headed into an empty net.
Cobh were beginning to play with great authority, and despite receiving a let-off in the form of a missed opportunity by Cabinteely’s Cathal Harney, O’Leary placed the tie beyond doubt with a low finish from a left-hand angle in the 84th-minute. With the Cobh back-four once again in fine form, they eased their way towards three well-earned points.
CABINTEELY FC: Ethan Farrell; Evan Caulfield, Robert Keogh (Michael Hogan 77), Alex Connolly, Ryan Burke; Hayden Rogers (Kian Bolger 55), Alex Aspil (Cathal Harney 40), Jack Hudson, Jack Maguire (Nathan Wolahan 77); Cian Lynch, Zak O’Neill (Sean McCann 70).
COBH RAMBLERS: Dan Ruddy; John Browne, James McSweeny, Gordon Walker, Kyle Murphy (Dan Lucey 55); Alex Smith (Alex Connolly 63), Matt Lamb (Conor O’Leary 68), Peter Callanan, Ryan O’Regan; Eoin Davis, Ross Slevin (Stephen O’Leary 51).