Holders Cobh Ramblers heading to Waterford after Munster Senior Cup defeat of Leeside United
Shane Griffin attempts a header on goal for Cobh Ramblers. Picture: Larry Cummins
Cobh Ramblers eased themselves into to the quarter-finals of the Munster Senior Cup with a victory over Leeside United on Little Island on Saturday evening.
Fran Rockett’s side will travel to Waterford FC in the next round, with that game scheduled for the weekend ending February 1. Wilson Waweru netted a brace and Kai O’Neill got one for the defending champions in cold conditions in East Cork.
This was Cobh’s third game of the year, and it followed friendly meetings with Waterford FC and Mayfield United at St Colman’s Park.
Leeside United qualified for the Round of 16 the hard way, by navigating away trips to Bandon AFC and Ballinhassig. This was their second outing of the New Year, and it followed a comprehensive defeat of Youghal United in the Pop Kelleher Cup.
The Ramblers showed their class in possession, but they struggled to break the Leeside line early as Dara Kelleher was on fire in between the sticks. The goalkeeper pulled off a string of excellent saves with the pick of the bunch a point black effort to deny Rhys Kelly Noonan in the 10th minute.
The midfielder also rattled the crossbar during this period, while O’Neill fired just over at the back post.
Pressure was building and the reward was a close range Waweru finish in the in the 15th minute.
Leeside only got forward on the break, and that led to a free in a threatening position after the referee ruled that Lucas Curtin handled the ball. The Ramblers wall blocked the shot, and the visitors closed out the first half with a dominating spell that failed to produce a second goal.
Cobh got that in the 49th minute through O’Neill and Rockett used the cushion to make sure of the result. This meant two changes involving Brendeán Frahill and Jason Abbott replacing Brian Lenihan and Oran Crowe, with the double substitution designed to tighten things up at the back.
The Ramblers remained in control, and with this came further chances throughout the second half.
Curtin actually went the closest out of everyone during this spell to scoring, and his effort from the edge of the box went narrowly wide.
Waweru then went down and a penalty was awarded to Cobh in the 74th minute. Abbott stepped up and hit the ball over the bar, and the midfielder left shaking his head in frustration at the miss.
Leeside United only created one opening against this, and Chambers stopped that with a routine diving save.
The Ramblers kept going and thought they won a second penalty in the 85th minute after Waweru went down, but the referee waved on their appeals.
The striker eventually got his second, in the third minute of time added on, by flicking the ball beyond the reach of the Leeside goalkeeper with his right boot.
Dara Kelleher; Scott Busteed, Killian McDonnell, Callum Nolan, Luis Adlam; Ben Weldon, Patrick Keyes, Conor Barry, Paul Downes; Adam Hogran, Jay Fahy.
Corey Chambers; B Linehan, Oran Crowe, Shane Griffin, Callum Honohan, Lucas Curtin, Wilson Waweru, Rhys Kelly-Noonan, Rhys Gourdie, Luka Le Bervet, K O’Neill.
Brendeán Frahill for Lenihan (62); Jason Abbott for Crowe (62), Anthony Adenopo for Curtin (74), Dylan McGlade for Gourdie (80), Ciaran Galvin for Kelly Noonan (80).
Ian O’Keeffe
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