Cork City left frustrated with ref's calls as local rivals Cobh Ramblers end winning run

Cobh Ramblers 1 Cork City 1 

Cork City manager Barry Robson felt his side should be content with a draw after the first local derby of his tenure at St Colman's Park.

The Rebel Army went to the Great Island aiming to win their fourth successive First Division league game and it looked like that was going to be the case when Seani Maguire turned in a free header at the back post in the 11th minute.

Cobh held firm as City chased a second, by limiting the involvement of forwards Cillian Murphy and Ruairi Keating. The Ramblers slowly pushed up in response by targeting wide areas, something that would lead to a corner in the 55th minute.

Cian Coleman tried to get to the second ball from the set-piece and he was met by a stern challenge from Charlie Lyons. A penalty was awarded and neatly put away by Rhys Gourdie, who ran the show for Cobh in midfield.

City went up a gear late on as they tried to get a winner, leading to attempts inside the area for Maguire and Keating. Murphy also tried his luck from the edge of the area, as everything was blocked down by a claret and blue jersey.

“I said to my players, if you can't go and win it, make sure you don't lose it,” Robson reflected.

“Now, it's a difficult venue to come and play in. You've got boys trying really hard, they're throwing subs on.

“I think we had five transitions and I thought we were going to kill them on and they fouled, which is fair play. And I think they got four or five bookings from that. Big credit to them. And another day when we were just going to go [and get the win].” 

Ramblers' strength was their backline, which contained experienced former Cork City players Cian Coleman, Garry Buckley and Shane Griffin. Cobh did struggle to get forward and create meaningful chances inside the area.

“No, I didn't think... well, Conor Brann has not had one save,” Robson said about his side’s defence on Friday night.

“So, for my thinking, they've got a penalty, but not one save we've had to make in the game tonight. And by the way, I didn't think we were at our best. 

"I didn't think we were at our best and I think that's down to the way the opposition tried to play the game. But there were spells in the game that I thought were very good, especially in the last 25 minutes.” 

One of Robson’s biggest issues on Friday night was the performance of the referee, especially after a Maguire penalty appeal was waived away midway through the second half.

“Listen, I don't know how you speak about referees, but I didn't think it was a very good game from him,” he said.

“I'm not sure about the penalty. Apparently, our one was. I'm just being honest. We did four or five transitions and they just fouled. And we went into dangerous areas and they just fouled. 

"Cynical fouls, which sometimes you get a red card for some of these.

“But listen, as I said, credit to them. They tried to put the game [their way and] they did... Loads of boys over six foot. Go long, get up on the second ball, play direct, try and play off scraps, and they dragged us into that game for about 30 minutes, for about 35 minutes. 

"And then after that, we were all right.” 

COBH RAMBLERS: Corey Chambers; Luka Le Bervet, Cian Coleman, Garry Buckley, Shane Griffin; Jason Abbott, Mikey Carroll, Oran Crowe, Rhys Brennan, Rhys Gourdie; Wilson Waweru.

Subs: Callum Honohan for Brennan (65); Lucas Curtin for Le Bervet (75), Anthony Adenopo for Crowe (75), Brendean Frahill for Carroll (90), Rhys Kelly Noonan for Waweru (90).

CORK CITY: Conor Brann; Rory Feely, Fiacre Kelleher, Charlie Lyons; Joshua Fitzpatrick, Greg Bolger, Darragh Crowley, Hans Mpongo; Cillian Murphy, Seani Maguire, Ruairi Keating.

Subs: Harry Nevin for Kelleher (37); Conor Drinan for Fitzpatrick (53).

Referee: Declan Toland