Cobh Ramblers' promotion fairytale comes to an end as Waterford edge it in extra time
Ronan Coughlan of Waterford celebrates after scoring his side's first goal with teammate Roland Idowu during the SSE Airtricity Men's First Division Play-Off Final between Waterford and Cobh Ramblers at Turner's Cross in Cork. Picture: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
COBH Ramblers’ remarkable First Division season came to an end on Saturday evening as Waterford FC edged it out after extra time, with Giles Phillips’ brilliant header the difference.
It was agonisingly close throughout, and with Waterford a goal ahead and closing in on the promotion/relegation final with Cork, they looked set to go through for the third time in a row.
As time passed and Cobh’s hopes started to fade away, Luke Desmond’s wayward shot was kept alive by Cian Browne, and it fell to Matthew McKevitt. The substitute pulled off a stunning bicycle kick that deflected off a Waterford defender and the crossbar before going in in the 88th minute to send the game to extra time.
The first half of extra time saw both Jack Doherty and Wilson Waweru produce two near misses, but Dean McMenamy was poised to win it for the Blues as Darragh Power set him up just six yards from goal, but Lee Steacy produced a breath-taking save to deny him.
The end-to-end play continued as Waweru set up Alec Byrne, but Sam Sargeant got down low to keep it out. The Blues went up the other side and regained their advantage in the 100th minute, as Phillips leapt high to head home from Shane Griffin’s corner.
The Rams fought hard but the Blues defence held firm, and after two hours of playing time Waterford still wouldn’t be beaten.
It was heartbreak for the Rams but delight for Waterford, who now face Cork City on Friday night to decide who will hold Premier Division status next year.
The first half was a cagey affair with little action, as Waterford had all the ball early on. Keegan’s men dropped deep and looked to play on the counter, but when they were in possession, the Rams were often wasteful with it.
Cobh got their first real chance of the game in the 24th minute, as Mikie Rowe delivered a dangerous ball in from a free kick that found Charlie Lyons, but his header was narrowly wide of the post.
The biggest moment in the first half arrived after 37 minutes when Ryan Burke looked to have handled the ball inside his own penalty area, but referee David Dunne didn’t see fit to award a penalty.
Waterford had their best chance of the half in the 43rd minute, as Connor Parsons managed to work the ball right up to Steacy’s post. He played it across to Ronan Coughlan, but the striker’s point-blank shot was blocked and fell to Phillips who couldn’t strike it with conviction, and Cobh survived the threat.
The Blues eventually broke the deadlock in the 47th minute, as Barry Baggley dispossessed Jack Doherty with a brilliant tackle before playing a long ball over the top to Coughlan, who finished well beyond Steacy.
The goal only encouraged Ramblers to raise their game, and in the 50th minute the ball fell for James O’Leary. He volleyed it cleanly from 30 yards out, but Sergeant made a great save it to touch it over for a corner.
Their spell in control quickly faded and Waterford slowed the tempo. The Blues had an excellent chance in the 78th minute to put the tie to bed, but Steacy reacted quickly and knocked it over the bar, before McKevitt netted Cobh back into contention and into extra time.
S Sargeant; R Burke, D Osede, G Phillips, D Power; R McDonald (D McMenamy 90+1), R Idowu (S Griffin 73); C Parsons (C Cresswell 98), R Akachukwu (N O’Keeffe 82), B Baggley; R Coughlan.
L Steacy; C Lyons, B Frahill, J Equaibor (M McKevitt 77); C Browne, P Phillips (D Holland 81), J Abbott (L Desmond 81), J O’Leary (T O’Brien 70); M Rowe (A Byrne 81), J Doherty, W Waweru (A Thibaut 128).
David Dunne
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