Cobh Ramblers suffer big loss away to UCD and need to find form quickly

UCD 4 Cobh Ramblers 0 

A disappointed Fran Rockett is quick to put context on his Cobh Ramblers heavy defeat to UCD at Belfield.

The coach admits his team is down on numbers and those being called up are just getting used to pace of senior football in the League of Ireland.

Those that featured in Belfield went down to a UCD side that led 1-0 at the break through Stephen Mohan. Hugh Smith, Killian Cailloce and Ciaran Behan hit the back of the net in the second half to complete the rout for the Students.

“I’m really disappointed in terms of how the result finished and sometimes you're going to play a team like UCD who have been together, and have a season or two under their belts as League of Ireland players,” Rockett said.

“We're struggling for a bit of confidence in front of goal at the minute and if you don't score, which we haven't done in the last few games, from open play, you're always going to be susceptible and a little confidence drain will happen. You’re going to concede at sometimes too, but I think there's context to it too.

“There's going to be a little bit of pain around what we're going through at the minute. There was 12 players within the squad who have very little to no League of Ireland experience, and you have six players injured at the minute, or five players injured, and one player away on international duty. 

"They're the experienced ones that you need.” 

This is challenge for Rockett and his coaching staff, and he is determined to get through this spell.

“In this division, if we're being honest, you can't, haemorrhage six players being out of your team. It’s not easy, but, you know, I'm willing to take the pain and the club are willing to take the pain. 

"We've got to come through this. This is a different model than last year, and we need to make sure that we stick together and come through these times because UCD are a very good side.

“If you go in there in any way, depleted, it's not going to be easy. There were some green shoots with a 15-year-old, Ethan O'Donovan, came on the pitch. Young James O'Halloran came on as well, and Dylan McGlade came back. He got his first start, so, you know, there are green shoots.

“I think it was nearly 12 players under the age of 21 within the squad last night, with little to no League of Ireland experience, and, you know, we've got to back these young kids. You know what I mean, and give them a chance. It's not easy. They haven't given up.” 

UCD: Dara Kavanagh, Luca Cailloce, Carl Lennox, Adam Wells, Mikey McCullagh, Louis Dignam, Ciaran Behan, Hugh Smith, Niall Holohan, Luke O’Regan, Stephen Mohan.

Subs: Mikey Raggett for McCullagh (83), Killian Cailloce for Mohan (83), Jayden Goad for Dignam (89), Colin Bolton for Behan (89), Matthew Alonge for Smith (89).

COBH: Timothy Martin, Callum Honohan, Rhys Brennan, Brendan Frahill, Lucas Curtin; Jason Abbott, Oran Crowe, Mikey Carroll, Rhys Gourdie, Dylan McGlade, Wilson Waweru.

Subs: Rhys Kelly-Noonan for Waweru (63), Anthony Adenopo for McGlade (63), Kai O’Neill for Crowe (63), James O’Halloran for Carroll (89), Ethan O’Donovan for Gourdie (89).

Referee: Neil Doyle.