UCD climb to the top of the table with a 2-1 win over Cobh Ramblers, overturning a first-half deficit in a closely contested clash in Dublin.
Cobh Ramblers 1
UCD 2
In the last meeting of these sides in Dublin in March the Students ran out comprehensive 4-0 winners. With Ramblers on a high after their first league win against Cork City last time out this return match was expected to be a lot closer. UCD went into the match hot on the heels of City just three points behind the league leaders and on an excellent run of form.
With both Shane ‘Big Griff’ Griffin and Mikey Carroll absent due to suspension after accumulating yellow cards, Lucas Curtin and Jason Abbott returned to the side. Apart from these enforced changes Ramblers manager Fran Rockett retained the rest of the starting line-up which defeated Cork City.
The students started brightly but Ramblers slowly edged themselves into the game creating the first real chance when a good move involving McGlade and Gourdie set Oran Crowe up on the edge of the box. His stinging drive was well saved by Dara Kavanagh. On 22 minutes Kavanagh again produced a great save as Rhys Brennan met an excellent cross from Lucas Curtin but the UCD keeper palmed the header away.
On 37 minutes Brennan was again involved when his drive from the edge of the box was well held by the Kavanagh. 5 minutes later the winger on loan from Bohemians broke the deadlock. A long throw from Crowe was flicked on at the near post by Frahill. Brennan latched onto the ball and fired home from close range. Ramblers narrowly shaded the first half and were worth their lead at the break.
In a mirror of the first half the students again started brightly. Ciaran Behan struck a good free kick from just outside the box which Martin comfortably saved. On 53 minutes UCD had their equaliser. Frahill won a header in the box off a long ball over the top. The ball fell to Buckley who lost control facing his own goal. Behan latched onto the loose ball and finished from close range. Buckley was injured in the process and was replaced by Callum Honohan.
The game was indeed proving to be a lot more competitive than the meeting of the two sides in March but the loss of Buckley seemed to knock Ramblers back as UCD continued to look very dangerous on the break. Behan was again the danger man in the 62nd minute when a good strike from the edge of the box was well saved by Martin. Ten minutes later the students went ahead as Adam Wells got on the end of a slick UCD move down the left. The ball across the six yard box was turned into his own net by Frahill under pressure.
Ramblers tried to push for an equaliser, with Kai O’Neill and Rhy Kelly Noonan being introduced for Anthony Adenopo and Jason Abbott, without creating any real chances. Three minutes from time Killian Cailloce had a shot from 10 yards that Martin got down to smoother. After 4 minutes of injury time the students had their win in what had been a very close and even game.
As Cork City suffered their second defeat in a row to Kerry in Mounthawk, UCD took over as league leaders on goal difference with a points total of 27 points, although City do have a game in hand. Ramblers remain in fifth on 19 points.
Line Ups
Cobh Ramblers: Timothy Martin; Lucas Curtin, Breandán Frahill, Garry Buckley (Callum Honohan 53), Luka Le Bervet; Jason Abbott (Rhys Kelly Noonan 84), Oran Crowe; Anthony Adenopo (Kai O’Neill 63), Rhys Gourdie, Dylan McGlade, Rhys Brennan.
UCD: Dara Kavanagh; Luca Cailloce, Carl Lennox, Niall Holohan, Luke O’Regan (Louis Dignam 67); Adam Wells, Thomas Morley; Charles Akinrintayo, Ciaran Behan, Michael McCullagh (Michael Ragett 78), Hugh Smith (Killian Cailloce 78).
Referee: John Sconnie Walsh
Interviews
Man of the Match Rhy Gourdie reflected on the positives of the two-game bank holiday weekend. ‘It’s a tough one to take tonight, but a positive weekend overall coming away from a Derby win against Cork City on Friday night, so positives to take forward. The Friday game was special for the club as well and we were obviously buzzing with that, but as soon as that game was done, we were looking into this one. It’s disappointing. We had a massive opportunity to take six points from these games in four days against the top two, and we didn’t, so it’s a bit disappointing’
Looking forward to the next game against Bray Wanderers Gourdie stated ‘It’s fifth versus sixth and that’s one that you’re going to be targeting to try and make that play-off push. Yeah, they’ve dropped points as well, so we’ve got a big game. They’re a good footballing team, but we like going up there as well.’
Fran Rockett was frustrated with the nature of the goals his side gave away. ‘Disappointed, really disappointed. I think we left them off the hook. I think it was evident for everyone to see they ran out of answers and I think we gave them the answers by maybe gift wrapping them the goals. I thought first half we were outstanding. We set up our game around springing and counter-attacking. I thought we were fantastic getting the goal from it. It’s a disappointing one but we won’t throw our toys out of the pram with it. We’ll suffer today, we’ll be annoyed with it today.’
Reflecting on the win against Cork City Rockett stated ‘it was a fantastic, really good occasion. It’s one of those where it’s up to us as a staff and as players to go again and not dwell too much on the City win. While it was a great occasion, you maintain your professionalism and your desire to go and try and win this game today.’
He was also full of praise for the Ramblers support. ‘The crowd are unbelievable. Honestly, I’m even listening to the crowd with the encouragement they’re giving some of the younger players and stuff like that. Like any fan base, we want the lads to run themselves into the ground. That’s what they’re doing. Very proud of the players, very proud of the fans, very proud of the club, how they’ve conducted themselves over the last two days.’
Reflecting on the next game away to Bray Rockett said ‘Big one. Very good side. Going through a bit of a topsy-turvy time at the minute maybe but still a very good side. We’re coming off the back of a loss, they’ll be coming off the back of a loss so it’ll be an even enough game. They’ll be going in to try and right the wrongs today, losing up in Finn Harps. Likewise we will too so it’ll be an interesting game.’
Asked about injuries Rockett said of Gary Buckley ‘He’ll be back and ready to go hopefully for Friday. He’ll be good.’ Of Cian Coleman and Shane ‘Little Griff’ Griffin the Cobh manager suggested these also should be available for the trip to Bray.
Next up for UCD is a top of the table clash away to Cork City while Ramblers travel to face Bray Wanderers in the Carlisle Ground.
Both ties will be played on Friday May 8th.