A late Jason Abbott penalty helped Cobh Ramblers pick up a point at home to Bray Wanderers.
Cobh Ramblers 1
Bray Wanderers 1
High flying Bray Wanderers arrived into St. Coleman’s Park on Friday night with a bit of a reputation. Over the last few seasons there has been a belief that something is building at the Carlisle Ground. In 2024 the Seagulls finished 5th but got to the promotion/relegation playoff final before losing 3-1 to Drogheda. They repeated the feat in 2025, finished 3rd but once again losing in the promotion/relegation playoff final to Waterford 2-1.
Bray manager Paul Heffernan has been in place since Sep 2024 and the club seems to have developed a sense of stability. Heffernan played nearly all his career in the UK include Sheffield Wednesday, Doncaster Rovers, Notts County, Bristol City, Kilmarnock, Hibernian, Dundee, Queen of the South, and Dumbarton. Coming into the game a young Bray side sat in 3rd ,behind Athlone on goal difference, after a good start with wins over Treaty, Athlone and UCD. Their only lose so far has been to leaders Cork City. Seventeen year old Billy O’Neill is their talisman and breakout talent, with many surprised Bray were able to retain him for the 2026 season.
Ramblers were forced into several changes from the loss to Athlone through injury. Both centre halves Cian Coleman and Gary Buckley were missing from the match day squad, replaced by Callum Honohan and Breandán Frahill. Luka Le Bervett was also missing through injury with Lucas Curtin continuing to deputise. Mikey Carroll dropped to the bench and was replaced in the starting line up by Claudio Osorio.
5 minutes in Cobh had the first chance of the game as Rhys Brennan broke through the Bray defence but failed to score when one on one with Jimmy Corcoran. Bray responded almost immediately with a chance of their own as Tyreik Sammy broke free on the left, bearing down on Timo Martin in the Ramblers goal but the Cobh keeper saved well at the feet of the winger.
On 17 minutes Waweru was in after a great through ball from Brennan but was also unable to convert as Corcran made a great save with his feet. On 30 minutes Bray were ahead after Alain Kizenga supplied a cross from the right wing for Dan Ring to head home. Brennan supplied a good cross from the left in the 35th minute but Rhy Gourdie’s header was too weak to beat Corcoran. With half time approaching Abbot sent a long free kick through to Gourdie in the box but his strike was right down the throat of the Bray keeper. At half time Bray marginally deserved to be ahead after a very even first half.
Brian Lenihan was introduced at half time for Shane Griffin, who was forced off through injury. Cobh Ramblers switched to a back four, releasing Gourdie to move further forward. In the 53rd minute the Glaswegian again had a good strike from within the box but was unable to beat the Bray keeper.
On 65 minutes Bray created a great chance after good work from Kizenga fed Ring in the box who cleverly checked back and was unlucky to see his shot deflected narrowly wide. From the resulting corner Ramblers broke forward through Brennan who chose to shot with Gourdie available. Corcoran saved Brennan’s effort. Three minutes later Kia O’Neill, on for Osario, hit the upright from a Gourdie corner.
Moving into the last quarter of the game Cobh Ramblers introduced Anthony Adenopo for Waweru and Dylan McGlade for Brennan as they sought the equaliser. It looked like Bray might hold on until in the 86th minute a Kai O’Neill shot was handled in the box and referee Kevin O’Sullivan had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Having scored a penalty against Cork City but missing one against Athlone, Rhys Gourdie handed the responsibility over to Jason Abbott. The Rambler’s veteran’s spot kick squirmed under Corcran and Cobh were level with a late equaliser. A point each for the teams was a fair reflection of the game.
LineUps
Cobh Ramblers: Timothy Martin; Rhys Gourdie, Callum Honohan, Breandán Frahill, Shane Griffin, Lucas Curtin; Oran Crowe, Jason Abbott; Claudio Osorio, Wilson Waweru, Rhys Brennan.
Subs: Brian Lenihan for Griffin (HT); Kai O’Neill for Osorio (61), Anthony Adenopo for Waweru (71), Dylan McGlade for Brennan (75).
Bray Wanderers: Jimmy Corcoran; Alain Kizenga, Declan Osagie, Jamie Duggan, Dean O’Shea; Cian Doyle, Sean Brennan; Tyreik Sammy, Daniel Ring, Billy O’Neill; Ben McCormack.
Subs: Aime Azende Nyedbo for O’Neill (68); Richard Ferizaj for McCormack (68), Kyle Tucker for Brennan (81), Ifunanyachi Achara for Ring (81).
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan
Interviews
Man of the match Lucas Curtin expressed frustration at full time stating ‘I’m happy about my individual performance but as a team we’re not really happy as we feel like we’ve dropped two points again. So I’d say we’re all devastated with a point. Not too happy to say the least. We need to start winning games and coming up that table.’
Cobh Ramblers manager Fran Rockett was full of praise for his players saying ‘I thought the endeavour that the players showed was outstanding. Look, we’re lacking that little bit of quality just in the final third to finish. I am liking what I see with the young boys coming into the team as well. I think it’s so, so refreshing. You could see that the fight was there. The boys never give up. It’s just disappointing early in the game, at the start of the game, we had two or three opportunities and we don’t put those away.’
Lucas Curtin came in for particular praise with Rockett stating the young left back was ‘absolutely fantastic. I think we’re looking at a serious left-sided player, physicality-wise, attacking-wise, defending, playing against young Billy O’Neill tonight, who’s an Irish international. Couldn’t be prouder of him.’
Speaking of the mounting Cobh Ramblers’ injuries Rockett said of Buckley ‘this is an injury from last season that Gary had. He’s one where now we took the decision we’ve got to take him out of the firing line. This is a short-term loss for hopefully a long-term gain.’ Of Cian Murphy he said ‘he’s an injury from the playoffs last season as well. Again, it’s come to a point where we’ve got to take him out of the firing line because these boys are warriors’. Addressing Luke Le Bervett Rockett said ‘Luke had a hamstring injury so it could be another couple of weeks as well. You can complain and all about that kind of stuff but I’m looking at the other lads. It’s opportunities for others now. We need to keep building this team. There’s going to be a little bit of pain in terms of results and stuff like that but we’ve got to accept that. We’ve got to try and move on and hopefully put ourselves in a position that when these boys are back, we can climb up the table because the league hasn’t left us in any way, shape or form in terms of the points.’
The result leaves Ramblers in 8th on 6 points but in a congested First Division they are only 4 points behind Athlone in 3rd. Bray are in second on 11 points, 5 behind early leaders Cork City.
Cobh next travel to UCD, while Bray welcome Colin Healy’s Kerry FC to the Carlisle Grounds.
Both games will be played on Friday 28th of March.
Kenneth Hickey is a Cobh Ramblers Season Ticket Holder