Cobh Ramblers produce incredible home display to secure playoffs
Cobh Ramblers' Alec Byrne tries to get away from Finn Harps' Ryan Flood, during their League of Ireland Division 1 clash at St Colman's Park.
COBH Ramblers came from behind to produce a stunning a comeback win over Harps at St Colman’s Park on Friday night and secure a playoff spot for 2023.
Their win now takes them eight points clear of Athlone in fourth, as the Leinster outfit suffered defeat to Treaty United.
Braces from Rowe and Doherty and a goal from McKevitt were enough to see the Rams guarantee a place in the League of Ireland First Division Playoffs with a game to spare.
The hosts were still settling into the game when Harps went in front, as Sean O’Donnell took it down the line before squaring it to Patrick Ferry, who netted his second league goal in a Harps shirt, as he poked it into the bottom corner from just outside the six-yard box.
The hosts could do little other than punt the ball forward, as Harps were on top in the early stages, keeping Cobh pinned inside their own half.
Credit to the Rams though, they improved after going a goal down, and they got close after a mistake from Tuta. The goalkeeper kicked it straight to Rams wing back Michael McCarthy, who did well to pick out Jack Doherty with a long ball. Doherty set up Mikie Rowe, but he couldn’t get his shot off in time.
The Rams came close again on the 40-minute mark as the ball dropped to Matthew McKevitt, who skipped past Matthew Makinson with a lovely piece of footwork, but his deflected shot was stopped by Tuta.
As the hosts steadily improved, Harps found themselves under pressure. After a mix up at the back for Harps, Doherty passed to Rowe, who slotted it brilliantly into the bottom corner to equalise for the hosts.
Early in the second half, things went from bad to worse for Makinson and Harps, as Doherty’s shot forced a handball from the defender. Doherty stepped up to take the spot kick, drilling it into the bottom corner to get his 15th league goal of the season and his seventh in eight games.
Sean O’Donnell was dismissed on the hour mark for an off the ball the ball incident with Cian Browne, though referee Oliver Moran originally produced a yellow card, before upgrading it to red.
The hosts took full advantage of the dismissal, and within four minutes McKevitt doubled their lead with a cool finish across goal after receiving the ball from Justin Equaibor.
They got their fourth of the night on the 70-minute mark as Equaibor passed it to Doherty, who flicked it with his heel to Mikie Rowe. The Galway loanee buried it into the bottom corner to get his brace.
Just two minutes later they had their fifth, as Cian Browne made a run down the line before playing it across to Doherty, and the Cobh talisman knocked it into the bottom corner.
Harps were awarded a penalty in the 75th minute, but captain Tony McNamee couldn’t convert, as Steacy made an excellent save. Cobh remained in control, and came close in the latter stages, but five goals proved to be more than enough.
L Steacy; M McCarthy (J O’Leary 80), C Browne (D O’Sullivan Connell 86), J Eguaibor, B Frahill (D Larkin 86), C Lyons, J Doherty, M Rowe, A Byrne (D Holland 65), M McKevitt (L Desmond 80), J Abbott.
A Tuta; R Flood (D Stokoe 73), S Keogh, S Doherty, B Banda (A McLaughlin 83), S O’Donnell, T McNamee, P Ferry (M Johnston 66), J Watson, M Hutchison ( D Duffy 83), M Makinson.
Oliver Moran.
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