Cobh Ramblers turn attention to play-offs after home loss to champions Dundalk
Dundalk's Norman Garbett is sent flying by Cobh Ramblers' Harvey Cribb during their SSE Airtricity League First Division clash at St Colman's Park. Picture: David Keane.
Cobh Ramblers closed off their regular season campaign with a defeat to Dundalk at St Colman’s Park.
Rohan Vaughan got the winner in the 87th minute after Matthew Whelan cancelled out an early strike by Dean Ebbe.
It was a dead rubber in every sense as Ciaran Kilduff’s side had wrapped up the title last week with their victory over Finn Harps at Oriel Park.
The Ramblers now move to the play-offs, where they will play Treaty United in the semi-finals over two legs.
The Shannonsiders finished in fifth place on the final day by defeating Wexford in a winner-takes-all game at Ferrycarrig Park.
The Ramblers used this night as a way to experiment with the team named by Richie Holland including four members of their U20s.
Evan Deasy, who recently won the inaugural Más+ by Messi 1v1 World Crown, featured for the first time since a defeat to Treaty United at the Markets Field at the beginning of July.
Oisin Barry also played his first senior game for Cobh after making the switch from Rockmount in the Munster Senior League to St Colman’s Park during the summer.
They were against a Dundalk side that blended youth with experience, and this led to a number of early chances for the visitors.
Barry stepped up time on time again, with his best effort a close-range stop after Vaughan squared the ball onto the penalty spot in the 33rd minute.
Cobh only had one real attempt up until that point and it came from Whelan stinging the palms of Enda Minogue at the Liam McMahon Stand with a driven effort from outside the area.
Dundalk then scored through Ebbe, and a blistering strike that went beyond the reach of Barry.
It was 1-0 at the break and the second game began with Minogue sliding into an onrushing Bellis.
The referee took out a yellow card, despite the goalkeeper being the only player back for Dundalk, while Cobh protested the decision.
The Ramblers used the time that was left to play to give minutes other members of the U20s, such as Oscar Ahern and Ciaran Galvin.
Things were being played at a very pedestrian pace at this stage, and Cobh still managed to create enough momentum for an equaliser.
Dylan McGlade set that up with a shot that was knocked on for Whelan for a simple finish in the 80th minute.
Dundalk had one more attack in them, and out of this came Vaughan’s winner with a blistering strike.
Oisin Barry; Faruq Adegboyega, Lucas Curtin, Nolan Evers, John O’Donovan, Jason Abbott, Harvey Cribb, Matthew Whelan, Samuel Bellis, Evan Deasy, Mikey Carroll.
Dylan McGlade for Deasy (58); Oscar Ahern for Bellis (69), Ciaran Galvin for Cribb (69), Rhys Gourdie for Carroll (85), Jonas Hakkinen for Adegboyega (85).
Enda Minogue; Luke Mulligan, Vincent Leonard, Ethen Vaughan, Sean Spaight, Eoin Kenny, Andy Paraschiv, Norman Garbett, Keith Ward, Rohan Vaughan, Dean Ebbe.
Aaron O’Dowd
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