Cobh Ramblers grab two late goals to stun rivals Cork City in Munster Senior Cup
Cobh Ramblers' Barry Coffey keeps possession under pressure from Cork City's Darragh Crowley and Rio Shipston, during their Munster Senior Cup clash at St Colman's Park. Picture: David Keane.
A brace late on from David Bosnjak saw Cobh Ramblers defeat Cork City the Munster Senior Cup quarter-final at St Coman’s Park.
The Rebel Army were leading at half-time through a close-range Ruairi Keating strike but and Tim Clancy’s side were stunned by their near rivals with the winner going in at the 89th minute.
The Ramblers will now face Passage AFC or Douglas Hall in the next round, with their game scheduled for next Wednesday night.
The longer journey was only part of the night at St Colman’s Park, with Cobh fielding ten former Cork City players in their starting XI. Richie Holland was also on the sidelines with the home side, who are listed as one of the favourites for the First Division title this year.
The general feeling was that Mick McDermott’s players had a point to prove, and they started by closing down and stopping Bernardo Piexoto Couto and Cathal O’Sullivan from finding space.
The first opening actually fell to Cobh and Barry Coffey fired wide in the 10th minute.
City responded by putting together a neat passing move that went to O’Sullivan, and the midfielder smacked the ball off the crossbar.
The would-be scorer went on to create the opening goal, with his perfectly placed cross bundled in by Keating with 32 minutes on the clock.
City stole possession at the restart and set up Sean Maguire for a long-distance shot that was spilled and quickly gathered by Timothy Martin.
The Rebel Army took their slender 1-0 lead into the break and the second half began with Cobh replacing Waterford native Shane Griffin and John O’Donovan with Samuel Bellis and Luka Le Bervet. There was an immediate injection of pace into the team but clear-cut chances proved rare.
Dale Holland did have a header clawed out for a corner by Tein Troost and the resulting set-piece came to nothing at the 65th minute.
The former Netherlands underage goalkeeper was also on hand to deal with a tame Bellis shot during this rally by the home side.
City soaked up the pressure and won a corner that was hit just over the bar by O’Sullivan at the Liam McMahon Stand.
The Ramblers came through this spell unscathed and equalised with a side-footed Bosnjak finish inside the area with just over five minutes left to play.
Cian Coleman, another one wearing claret and blue after a stint at Turner’s Cross, created the winner with a charging run.
Le Bervet was the creator and Bosnjak kept his composure to send his club through to the semi-finals for the first time since 2023.
Timothy Martin; John O’Donovan, Shane Griffin, Cian Bargary, Barry Coffey, Cian Murphy, Cian Coleman, Jonas Häkkinen, Shane Griffin, Dale Holland, Jason Abbott.
Luka Le Bervet for O’Donovan (HT); Samuel Bellis for Griffin (HT), Niall O’Keeffe for Abbott (56), Nolan Evers for Häkkinen (75).
Tein Troost; Bernardo Piexoto Couto, Rio Shipston, Charlie Lyons, Greg Bolger, Ruairi Keating, Cathal O’Sullivan, Kitt Kelson, Darragh Crowley, Freddie Anderson, Sean Maguire.
Josh Fitzpatrick for Nelson (HT); Sean Murray for Shipston (60), David Bosnjak for Coffey (68), Alex Nolan for Bolger (74), Arran Healy for Crowley (90).
Eoghan O’Shea
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