Jack Larkin secures first league win for Cobh Ramblers away to Finn Harps
Jack Larkin was the match-winner for Cobh Ramblers in Donegal. Picture: Larry Cummins
A first-half Jack Larkin goal was enough for Cobh Ramblers to beat Finn Harps in Ballybofey and get their first win of the League of Ireland season.
The result also marks the first time Gary Hunt got to see his team take the three points after they started the year with a defeat to Treaty United and draw with Athlone Town at Turner’s Cross.
This was always going to be a tough assignment for the manager and his players, especially with the home side enjoying an unbeaten start to the season.
There was also the added presence of Success Edogan, the striker who kickstarted his spell in blue and white by scoring three times in three games.
Cobh had no interest in this narrative and they never once let Harps settle on the ball. The Ramblers also created a number of half chances, and the pressure paid off when a long throw from Cian Browne was knocked down to Larkin and he volleyed in with 24 minutes on the clock.
Harps only created one real opening during the first half, and Edogun was dispossessed by Jason Abbott as he tried to collect a Matthew Makinson pass inside the area.
Cobh had no time to settle into the second half as Jamie Watson latched onto a pass on the edge of the box and fired inches wide. This acted as a warning shot, a reminder of what the home side are capable of when they are given a sliver of space.
Harps did not relent, and they won a succession of corners in the 70th minute. David Cawley sent the ball in with hundreds of home supporters behind him and Cobh stood their ground with a back four marshalled by Brendeán Frahill.
This was during Harps' best spell in possession, something that was brought on by Darren Murphy making four substitutes in the 60th minute. The coach’s changes injected a new sense of life into the Harps team, and they pushed Cobh deep into their own half.
Darragh Burke made sure of the points with a succession of saves during a late push for an equaliser by Harps.
The home side thought that they won a penalty when Sean O’Donnell went down after colliding with Justin Eguaibor in the first minute of five added on. The referee ended up cautioning the player instead of pointing to the spot, and Cobh hung on to get the win.
Tim-Oliver Hiemer; Jamie Watson, Matthew Makinson, Noe Baba, Patrick Ferry, Max Hutchinson, Success Edogun, Shane McMonagle, Stephen Doherty, David Cawley, Tony McNamee.
Luke O’Brien for Doherty (60); Sean O’Donnell for Hutchinson (60), Mark Mbuli for Ferry (60), Conor Tourish for McMonagle (60), Chris Lotefa for Watson (82).
Darragh Burke; Cian Browne, Brendeán Frahill, Dean Larkin, Matthew McKevitt, Jack Larkin, James O’Leary, Nolan Evers, David Bosnjak, Dale Holland, Jason Abbott.
Beineon O’Brien Whitmarsh for Bosnjak (74); Pierce Philips for Larkin (81), Justin Eguaibor for O’Leary (89).
Oliver Moran.
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