Ramblers host Athlone as the battle for third heats up

COBH Ramblers host Athlone Town in another crucial First Division clash, with both teams needing a win to stay clear of Wexford, who reside in fifth.

Keegan’s men left it late to snatch all three points from Treaty United in St Colman’s Park last Friday night, while Athlone managed a very respectable 2-1 win over Waterford at the RSC. Dario Castelo’s team will be hopeful of picking up another three points away from home tonight, and simultaneously stealing third from the east Cork side.

CRUNCH TIME

With Cobh holding a two-point gap to tomorrow night’s opponents Athlone, as well as just five to Wexford, it’s crunch time in the First Division for the three clubs, who are fighting for that third spot in the table.

The last time the two met was at the Athlone Town Stadium, where Cobh fought back from 2-1 down to secure a win, courtesy of goals from Pierce Phillips and Wilson Waweru.

The last time these two played at St Colman’s Park, they couldn’t be separated as it finished in a 2-2 draw, something Keegan won’t want a repeat of tomorrow.

Though Cobh are in pole position to finish in the playoff spots, Keegan won’t want to let it slip at this stage, as falling below fourth means they face Waterford in the playoff semi-final.

Athlone have been flying this season, and Cobh’s closest challengers primarily operate in either a 3-5-2 and a 4-5-1 system, and it has proven successful for their talisman Frantz Pierrot, who has hit the back of the net an impressive 19 times this year, while also registering five assists.

Cobh’s defence has been a force this year, while Charlie Lyons and Brendan Frahill have stood out for the Rams, with the latter the sole goalscorer last time out against Treaty, but they’ll have their hands full tomorrow evening.

Looking ahead to the game in his post-match interview last week with The Echo, Keegan said; “They’re a fine side. I think for the first half a dozen games, people thought they were overachieving.

“As soon as we played them once, I said ‘these boys are going to finish top four’. I thought they were a really good side [and] they’ve got quality all over the field.

“Obviously, Pierrot gets the headlines and rightly so, he’s a fantastic centre-forward, but they’ve much more than him. [Patrick] Hickey, [Aaron] Connolly, [Noah] van Geenan, they’ve got a top-class side.

“I fancied them to get the points tonight [against Waterford], so that one doesn’t overly surprise me. I think the game against them is possibly the hardest game we have left.” On the injury front, Keegan will be without Kervick who is still recovering from a broken wrist, though Pierce Phillips should be back in contention after the ankle injury he sustained against Galway.