Cork City’s 100% start to the season ends as former captain Cian Coleman delivers a man-of-the-match display to help Cobh Ramblers earn a 1-1 derby draw.
Cobh Ramblers 1
Cork City 1
The first Cork derby of the 2026 League of Ireland First Division season bounced into St. Coleman’s Park on Friday night. This was the first competitive meeting of the sides since the 2025 Munster Senior Cup Semi Final. While in most year this competition is treated like a preseason friendly by League of Ireland clubs on that occasion both sides played virtually full-strength sides.
Ramblers won the encounter by two goals to one, with David Bosjnak scoring twice to cancel out an opener for Cork City by Ruari Keating. The last meeting in the league was a one nil victory to Cork City, again with a Keating goal in the 90th minute. Ramblers had played with ten men since the 40th minute when Cobh’s Captain Jason Abbott was controversially sent off by referee Aaron O’Dowd.
There are always many connections between Ramblers and Cork City. The clubs are only 28 miles apart and many players have featured for both clubs. Current Rams Cian Coleman, Shane Griffin, Gary Buckley and Dylan McGlade have all previously played for City. Charlie Lyons, Darragh Crowley and Niall O’Keffee have all played for Ramblers.
In recent seasons Barry Coffey, Cian Bargary, Jonas Hakininan and Cian Murphy have all played for both clubs. The same is through of coaching and backroom staff. Much links these clubs together.
And yet the two clubs couldn’t be more different. City are the proverbial ‘sleeping giant’. Representing a city with a population of over 200,000 people they have chronically underachieved in recent seasons. They have become the very definition of a yo-yo club spending four of the last 6 league campaigns in the First Division. City haven’t challenge for a Premier Division League of Ireland title since 2018. It can be argued that Ramblers on the other hand, representing a town of only 15,000 are punching well above their weight. They have finished second and third in the last three season, outperforming clubs from much bigger towns and city such as Treaty United (pop. Over 200,000), Bray Wanderers (pop. 30,000) and Kerry FC of Tralee (pop.26,000).
The game was played out in front of a sold-out St. Coleman’s Park with both sets of raucous fans in full voice. For the Rams Kai O’Neill had to content himself with a slot on the bench, replaced in the starting lineup by Oran Crowe. The returning Luka Le Bervet meant Callum Honohan dropped from the starting lineup as well. Signs were ominous for the Rams as in the 2nd minute Keating broke through the Cobh back line, but when in one on one skewed his shot wide of Chamber’s goal. On 10 minutes Maguire had a shot from 6 yards out but Chambers tipped it round the post. City were dominating the opening phase of the game and deservedly went ahead through Sean Maguire in the 12th minute. A deep corner from Murphy was met at the back post by the City striker and Cobh were one nil down.
Cobh rallied after conceding and took the game to City without creating any real clear-cut chances. They still trailed at the break. In the second half Cobh continued to push and got their reward in the 55th minute. From a Jason Abbot corner City failed to clear and Cian Coleman reached the breaking ball before Charlie Lyons, whose challenge was deemed illegal by referee Declan Toland, who awarded a penalty. Coleman, the former City captain was excellent for Cobh throughout the game, playing with a bandage on his head following a clash of heads in the first half. Lyons the former Ramblers player was booed throughout the game by the hardcore Ramblers support. Such is the nature of the ‘El Corkico’. Rhys Gourdie levelled the game from the spot for his 4th goal in his Ramblers career and his first at St. Coleman’s Park.
Ramblers had a great chance to take the lead in the 60th minute when Brennan on the left feed Waweru in the box but he scooped the ball wide from close range. Almost immediately City broke in a flowing move down the Ramblers right but Mpongo fired over from the edge of the box. City began to dominate for the last fifteen minutes as they went looking for a winner. Ramblers dug in. In the 87th minute Crowley’s skewed shot found Keating in the box but he was quickly closed down by Shane Griffen who came away with the ball and cleared. In the 95th minute 16-year-old Cillian Murphy, who was excellent for City throughout, danced past Lucas Curtin, cutting in from the left and fired a shot that was well saved by Chambers. Jason Abott blocked the follow up shot. The Rams held on for a deserved point. The City Ultras had a banner stating ‘Silence of the Rams’ but the Rams were far from silent at the final whistle.
City Manager Barry Robinson seemed to want to blame the ref for the loss of their 100% record stating ‘Listen, I don’t know how you speak about referees, but I didn’t think it was a very good game from him’ and claiming Ramblers were guilty of ‘cynical fouls, which sometimes you get a red card for some of these.’ The fact that his team were simply out fought for large parts of the game seemed to pass the former Celtic player by. In truth Ramblers were simply more up for the fight. While there can be no doubt there was more quality in the City team Ramblers just had far more grit and determination, time and again winning 50/50 balls all over the pitch.
COBH RAMBLERS: Corey Chambers; Luka Le Bervet, Cian Coleman, Garry Buckley, Shane Griffin; Jason Abbott, Mikey Carroll, Oran Crowe, Rhys Brennan, Rhys Gourdie; Wilson Waweru.
Subs: Callum Honohan for Brennan (65); Lucas Curtin for Le Bervet (75), Anthony Adenopo for Crowe (75), Brendean Frahill for Carroll (90), Rhys Kelly Noonan for Waweru (90).
CORK CITY: Conor Brann; Rory Feely, Fiacre Kelleher, Charlie Lyons; Joshua Fitzpatrick, Greg Bolger, Darragh Crowley, Hans Mpongo; Cillian Murphy, Seani Maguire, Ruairi Keating.
Subs: Harry Nevin for Kelleher (37); Conor Drinan for Fitzpatrick (53).
Referee: Declan Toland
Post Match Interviews
Man of the Match Cian Coleman stated ‘we had a plan during the week and I think we just set out to do that. We put them under pressure because this is part of the game.’ Speaking of the mood in the dressing room Coleman said ‘it’s happy. It’s only a pint, but we’re happy. We obviously want to win the game, but we’re looking ahead to Athlone Town next weekend. It doesn’t matter unless we build on it next week, but we’ll be up there for three points and hopefully we can get them.’
Cobh Ramblers Manager Fran Rockett speaking about Cork City stated ‘I think it’s important not to overly respect them. I think you come down here, it’s a tough place to come, it’s not easy, the crowd’s right up on top of you so we’ve got to use that to our advantage.’ On his own team Rockett said ‘I thought we were excellent but I think it comes back to just individuals standing up and we asked for one word, courage. It was only a point tonight, I think we ‘ll take the performance.’
Highlighting Cian Coleman Rockett said ‘Listen, he’s one of the best professionals I’ve ever come across. I think his attitude, his desire to go up and win the header. I think a lesser person comes off with the bang to the head that he took and then he goes on and his performance goes, he rises again in terms of his quality levels. I’ve heard a lot of good things about Cian before I came in here but he’s after going up in our estimation’.
Addressing talisman Luka Le Brevet who started his first league game of the season but had to come off in the second half. ‘We were delighted to know that it was only a calf in terms of getting cramp as well. But he’s an outstanding talent. Another guy during the week who stood up and basically said, I’m ready to go Friday. I’m really happy to have him back because I think he’s definitely one of the best in the league’. Speaking on Rhys Gordie, Rockett said ‘He does a lot of selfless work, Rhys, but he’s been absolutely fantastic.’
There was also praise for Bohs loanee Rhys Brennan. ‘For a young lad to come all the way down from Dublin to play here. I’m delighted about Rhys and again his attitude around the place. Coming down from Dublin, throwing him into Cobh as well. He’s away from his family but he’s taken to it so well. I’m very proud of him. I’m proud of all the players tonight.’
Next up for Cobh Ramblers is an away trip to Athlone.
Cork City are at home to Longford Town.
Both games will be played on Friday March 13th.
Piece Written by Kenneth Hickey
Kenneth Hickey is a Cobh Ramblers Season Ticket Holder
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