Cobh U19s suffer crushing set-back away to Rovers
U19 SOCCER
SHAMROCK ROVERS U19………………………………..5
COBH RAMBLERS U19…………………………………….0
Daire Walsh
IT proved to be a day to forget for the Cobh Ramblers U19s at the Tallaght Stadium on Saturday, when they shipped a heavy defeat to Shamrock Rovers in the SSE Airtricity Southern Elite Division.
On their return from a mid-season break, Cobh found themselves at the summit of the table and searching for a fifth consecutive league victory. Ramblers striker Eoin Davis headed just wide from an enticing cross in the opening minute of the contest, and winger Scott McCarthy also hit the side-netting at the end of a mazy run on the left-flank.
However, Declan Coleman’s side suffered a significant set-back on the half-hour mark, when Rovers attacker Aaron Dobbs held off an attempted challenge by Gordon Walker (who was operating in a back-three for the visitors) before firing past Ramblers netminder Conor Hogan.
The Hoops front man doubled his side’s advantage eight minutes later by heading home a precise delivery from Sean Boyd. An excellent Hogan save denied Dobbs a hat-trick on the stroke of half-time, but Cobh were left with a mountain to climb.
With just one defeat in nine outings prior to this encounter, Cobh were eager to force their way back into contention, and McCarthy continued to pose a threat in the final-third. After his ball into the area on 65 minutes was flicked on by Darren Murphy, Ryan O’Regan was presented with an ideal opportunity to reduce their deficit, but Rovers’ custodian Luca Gratzer was able to turn away his effort from a right-hand angle, much to the relief of the home team. Rovers remained in control as the half wore on, though, and Sean Boyd applied the finishing touches to a Richie English corner 17 minutes from the end.
This effectively placed the outcome beyond doubt, and Boyd swiftly added to his tally with a neat drive that was beyond the reach of Hogan. The Hoops were in a rampant mood at this stage, and Dobbs claimed a third goal at the end of a sweeping counter-attack with four minutes remaining.
SHAMROCK ROVERS U19: Luca Gratzer; Cian Collins, Sean Callan, Sam Bone (Darragh Gibbons 82), Conor Gleeson; Sean Boyd (Emmanuel Lawal 76), Aaron Bolger (Harry Cornally 64), Richie English (Evan White 82), Adam Doyle (Shane Stokes 76); Dean Dillon, Aaron Dobbs.
COBH RAMBLERS U19: Conor Hogan; Troy O’Sullivan, Gordon Walker, John Browne; Peter Callanan; Ryan O’Regan (Cameron Harlson 73), David Hurley, Killian Murphy (Stephen O’Leary 66), Scott McCarthy (Nathan O’Donnell 77); Eoin Davis, Darren Murphy (Joe Meaney 84).
Referee: Thomas Connolly (Dublin).