Cork City 2 Cobh Ramblers 1

CORK CITY came out on top with the victory following this pre-season Leeside derby clash against Cobh Ramblers in Mayfield last weekend.

Considering the terribly windy conditions, it was a decent game of football which both sides contributed to.

After a full pre-season, this was a chance for City fans to see Neale Fenn’s style of football being implemented, along with the opportunity to get a glimpse of their new additions.

Joe Redmond, Reyon Dillon and Henry Ochieng were among those to have featured, each of whom people will most likely gain a better assessment about on the Turners Cross surface next weekend for the friendly against Longford.

Dylan McGlade was at the centre of much of what City did good, something Leesiders will hope to see more of in the season 2020.

Likewise, Stuart Ashton is likely to have been pleased with how his Cobh players performed.

Ramblers looked sharp and well up for this contest at times, traits they will want to and will need to bring into their First Division campaign ahead.

It was Ramblers that went into the lead through former City player Pierce Phillips, after he headed in astutely from a David Hurley corner kick.

Although having plenty of the ball, it took until the half hour mark for Cork to really create a clear cut opportunity of note, when Gearoid Morrissey fired just over from distance.

City grew more threatening before half time, with Cian Colman going close from a Stabana cross, while McGlade also went fired just off target.

The Rebel Army did level the game up when Dillon, a striker who began his career with Crystal Palace, was on hand to stab the ball home from close range.

Ramblers went close early in the second half after Ian Turner forced a good stop out of Cork keeper Liam Bossin.

Then City would go into the lead, as McGlade controlled well before finding the back of the net with a crisp finish.

Much of the remainder of the contest was to see Ramblers creating the more clear cut opportunities.

Turner would go close again, while Cameron Harlson made an impression when he was introduced from the subs bench.

Harlson went close and forced another good stop from Bossin around the 68th minute mark, who was called into action again moments later to keep Cobh at bay, again Harlson going close.

City tried to search for a third goal late on, but Galvin’s effort was the closest they would come.

The preparations for the new League Of Ireland season continue for both City and Ramblers next weekend.

City play host to another First Division side and Neale Fenn’s former employers Longford, 3pm, at Turners Cross on Saturday, with a Munster Senior Cup clash against Mayfield United down to be played also the following day.

Ramblers will take on another Premier Division team next Friday in the form of Waterford, with that game taking place in Ardrath Park, Youghal.

CITY: Liam Bossin: Henry Ochieng, Gearoid Morrissey, Dylan McGlade, Cian Coleman, Daire O’Connor, Ronan Hurley, Kyron Stabana, Reyon Dillon, Joe Redmond, Trialist A.

Subs: Mark McNulty, David Harrington, Charlie Fleming, Rob Slevin, Conor Davis, Cory Galvin, Alex Byrne, Beineón O’Brien-Whitmarsh.

COBH: Paul Hunt: Dylan Walsh, Jamie O’Sullivan, Charlie Lyons, Kevin Taylor, David Hurley, Pierce Phillips, Ian Turner, Martin Coughlan , Lee Devitt, Cian Leonard:

Subs: Darryl Walsh, Stephen O’Leary, Stephen O’Connor, Ben O’Riordan, Adam Foley, Trialist B, Cameron Harlson.

Referee: Raymond Matthews