Cobh Ramblers travel to Wexford for last away game of the season

COBH Ramblers will contest their penultimate game of the 2023 League of Ireland First Division when they travel to Ferrycarrig Park and face Wexford this Sunday.

A win or draw for Keegan’s men will mean they can mathematically secure third place, but failure to put Wexford to the sword will give James Keddy’s side a chance at snatching third, although last week’s results confirmed that these two teams will meet each other in the playoff semi-final regardless.

Wexford’s 2-1 win over Kerry FC last time out means they’ve now extended their unbeaten run to nine games, but their win over the newcomers had greater significance in that it guaranteed a playoff spot for the first time in the club’s history.

Last time out the Rams picked up a 2-0 win over Longford Town, as goals from Wilson Waweru and Jack Doherty ended Longford’s playoff hopes for 2023, while Jack Doherty is now just one goal away from breaking the record for most league goals scored by a Rams player in a single season.

Cobh and Wexford’s head-to-head records this year are even – having picked up a 2-1 win each and playing out a 2-2 draw last time at St Colman’s Park. However, the Rams haven’t beaten Wexford away from home since April 2021.

Looking ahead to Sunday’s game, Rams manager Shane Keegan remarks; “There's no doubt it is a tricky one. To be honest with you, as a management team we need to have a good thing about what way to approach this.

“There probably is a little bit of shadow boxing to it, and yet you want positive momentum going into the playoffs. 

We'd love to go unbeaten from now to the start of the playoffs if we can.

“They'll be thinking the same. We're all watching yellow cards, [it’s] probably no coincidence that Ethan Boyle picked up his 10th yellow card tonight [last week against Kerry] down there for them!” he laughs.

“They're the kind of things that happen at this stage of the season. We would really love to head into the first leg of the playoff with no defeats in those three remaining games, so it's about trying to strike that right balance for next week.” 

Dale Holland and Brendan Frahill will be back in the Rams squad after serving their suspensions against Longford Town, while Pierce Phillips will be in contention to return to the starting lineup after his absence with an ankle injury. Tiernan O’Brien will be up to three more weeks on the sidelines, while Issa Kargbo has picked up an injury and will also be out for this one.

Harry Nevin and Rowan McDonald returned from injury a fortnight ago against Waterford, meaning the Youths will have a full squad bar the suspended Ethan Boyle on Sunday.