Cobh Ramblers were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with Finn Harps at St. Colman’s Park despite dominating large spells, as Kai O’Neill scored his first League of Ireland goal.
Cobh Ramblers 1
Finn Harps 1
Finn Harps arrived into St. Colemans Park after making one of the longest away trips of 864 round kilometres on the back of a 2-1 victory over UCD. Ramblers named an unchanged side from the one which was also victorious last time out away to Longford.
Cobh Ramblers started the brighter of the sides with eighteen year old Kai O’Neill shooting over after 5 minutes. Ramblers Rhy Gourdie also had a shot saved on 24 minutes. On a wet and windy night the game then settled down with not a lot of quality on display and few chances. On 38 minutes nineteen year old Rhys Brennan, on-loan from Bohemians, shot just over from the edge of the box.
The game burst into life in the last few minutes of the first half. Finn Harps had the first effort, when Cobh Ramblers keeper Corey Chambers tipped a shot from Bernardo Monteiro over the bar. The scramble in the box from the resulting corner ended in the ball eventually squirming wide.
Ramblers then broke at the other end of the pitch through a good move when Rhys Gourdie feed Brennan whose neat cross found Kia O’Neill in the box who firmly headed home his first career League of Ireland goal. A minute later it was once again Rhys Brennan who fed Wilson Waweru but Corey Sheridan in the Finns Harps goal tipped the effort round the post.
After the break, Cobh Ramblers once again started well and began to dominate possession pushing Finn Harps back without creating many clear-cut chances. Harps defended well and sprung on the counterattack, scoring in the 72nd minute through substitute Nathan Lumingo, against the run of play. Ramblers Brendean Frahill appeared to be fouled in the build up but referee Mark Houlihan waved play on and Lumingo fired a low shot beyond the outstretched hand of Chambers.
Desperate for a winner Ramblers pushed on in a frantic period of play. Their best change coming when man of the match Jason Abbot struck a fierce strike from the edge of the box only to see it come crashing off the crossbar with Sheridan beaten. Ramblers continued to push hard but the Finn Harps defence stood firm with their seventeen year old goalkeeper Corey Sheridan making a fine save from Brendeán Frahill in the 93rd minute.
Both sides had to settle for a point which leaves them clustered with Wexford in fourth, Finn Harps fifth, Bray Wanders sixth and Ramblers seventh all on four points.
Man of the Match Jason Abbott reflected, “Yeah, I though it was a good performance. I think we left them off the hook. I think we were on top for the majority of the game. We probably should have came away with three points, but we didn’t. It’s a learning moment for us, and it’s something we need to look back on going forward, taking positives from the game and keep driving.”
“I think we showed a lot of character last week in Longford after a disappointment in the opening of the season. Although we got a point today, I thought the performance was positive.”
Talking of the Cork derby next week ‘It’s a nice occasion to go into, We are looking forward to it, but it’s three points at the end of the day, and that’s it.”
Teams
Cobh Ramblers: C Chambers; S Griffin, G Buckley (B Frahill, 66), C Coleman, C Honohan (B Linehan, 86); J Abbott, R Gourdie; K O’Neill (A Adenopo, 51), M Carroll (O Crowe, 86), R Brennan; W Waweru.
Finn Harps: C Sheridan; J Bradley-Walsh, A Fanle, C Tourish, J Cullen; M Hutchison, P Tokam; I Zerrouk (A McLaughlin, 61), B Monteiro(T Ajibola, 62), G McAteer (D de Lacerda, 90), S Bradley (N Lumingo, 62).
Referee: Mark Houlihan.
Fran Rockett, Cobh’s manager echoed the sentiments of his captain. “Two points dropped after our dominance in the game. It is always on a knife edge when it is only 1-0. We had numerous opportunities and if you don’t get that second goal there’s always a chance that a mistake or something will allow them back into the game. Ultimately it is a disappointing dressing room in there but I like to think that performance is after restoring the faith after the Wexford game and the fans will come out in their droves for Friday night.”
Cork City are now the only team with a 100% win record after three games! pic.twitter.com/nzo3fVRHK3
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) February 27, 2026
“I think maybe with the freekick as well. There was a definite free kick before on Brendan Frahill there. Even talking to the referee there, he’s half agreed with me on it as well, to be fair to him. That was a head clash, more or less, and he’s down on the ground and the referee allows the game to roll on, so I’m disappointed with that.”
“I thought Jason Abbott, you know what, at 31 years of age, he ran the midfield, but in terms of his desire, his application, I thought he was fantastic. But yeah, look, we’re disappointed. We can see areas that we’re improving in, but yeah, we’ll move forward now to the Cork City game.”Commenting on Mikey Carroll who impressed in midfield alongside Abbot, “The two of them have complemented each other so, so well. Mikey Carroll is so efficient, and he’s not just a crab of a six, he looks for a progressive ball. He looks like someone who can mix it up as well for someone so small. His energy levels are unbelievable, but I have to be aware as well that it’s only the third game into the league where we have to look after him too.”
Addressing the withdrawal of Kai O’Neill on 51 minutes “He has a fantastic attitude, and he’s somebody who wants more goals, and there’s more goals in him. It’s just a pity he came off the pitch with an injury, a little knock, and thank God, it’s not too serious, so he’ll be ready to go on Friday. And looking ahead to Friday, big game against the table toppers Cork City. Maybe the narrative is around City, they’re coming here, so we’re not going to make it easy for them or roll out the red carpet, and we’re looking forward to it, and we see that as a great challenge, and build on this performance, because I thought we were outstanding tonight.”
Asked about Gary Buckley who came off in 66th minute. “We’ve been monitoring that as well. We knew that he had a little knock on his ankle, and we knew it was a thing where it could be early stages in the second half to come off. He probably could have played on, knowing the type of guy Gary is. He’s another one who’ll be fresh for Friday night.”
Questioned on long-term injuries Rockett stated of Shane ‘Little Grif’, “He would have been pivotal to it, one of our first signings, but he’s actually back. He’s out of a boot now, so he’s back, thank God, and reintegrated within the group.”
On Dylan McGlade, “Friday night Dylan McGlade will be available for selection. He’s been chomping at the pitch, so yeah, really looking forward to it. It’s positive, because that injury list was big once upon a time, so it’s after coming back down, so yeah, really good now to reintegrate the boys back into it as soon as they can.”
Up next for Cobh Ramblers is a home game against league leaders Cork City in the first of this seasons Munster derbies.
Finn Harp next have a home tie against Wexford.