Cork City look to up the pace again when they host rivals Cobh

Still unbeaten and still in control, Cork City’s next First Division contest sees them take on local rivals Cobh Ramblers this Friday evening at Turner’s Cross (7.45pm).

City's lead at the top of the table is six points with a game in hand, and they remain the only team in the division yet to taste defeat. A 100% home record – with six consecutive league wins at the Cross – makes them overwhelming favourites heading into tonight’s game.

Last time out, a 1-1 draw with Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds left City frustrated. Bray had the better of a scrappy first half, Ifunanyachi Achara tapping home on 28 minutes after Ben McCormack's lob from distance came back off the crossbar and left Conor Brann scrambling.

Cork came out flying after the restart and only needed eight minutes to find their leveller, Conor Drinan letting fly from outside the box and finding the top corner. They were unable to find a winner, although came close on several occasions in the dying minutes.

It marked only the third time this season that Cork City have dropped points. Across 11 games, they've won eight and drawn three, scored 21 goals and conceded eight. The gap at the top is comfortable, but Robson will want a response after the draw in Bray.

RIVALS

Cobh Ramblers endured a ropey start to the campaign but had settled in recent weeks. Fran Rockett’s side managed three wins in a row at the start of April – away to Kerry, at home to Treaty United and away to Finn Harps – which pushed them into the playoff picture, before a goalless draw with Longford Town and a 2-0 defeat away to Wexford cooled things off.

They sit sixth on 16 points from 12 games, just three points off third in a congested pack behind City. The playoffs remain achievable if they can find a fraction of the consistency that they managed throughout last season under Mick McDermott as they pushed Dundalk in the title race.

They'll take confidence in the fact they've already taken something from City once this season.

Former Cork City winger Dylan McGlade has had a couple of outstanding performances for Cobh Ramblers so far, and is their leading scorer with five league goals, while youngster Kai O’Neill has grabbed two goals in the league up to this point.

Rhys Gourdie has been influential in midfield and converted the penalty that earned Cobh their point at St Colman's Park in March, while 19-year-old Rhys Brennan has provided energy alongside him.

That first meeting between the sides back in March was Cork City's first draw of the campaign. Seani Maguire had put City ahead, but Cobh grew into the game after half-time, and the sustained pressure eventually yielded a penalty which Gourdie converted.

The league head-to-head is heavily tilted in City’s favour – 12 wins, two draws and just one defeat – but Cobh have had plenty of success against City in Munster Senior Cup games over the past few years.

They beat Cork City 2-1 in a Munster Senior Cup quarter-final in early 2025 through a late David Bosnjak brace, and retained the Munster Senior Cup against City in the 2023 final when captain Dale Holland struck from range in Turner’s Cross to give them some silverware during the campaign in which they reached the playoff final.

City now have a chance to reclaim that title from their rivals when they face Rockmount in the final.

Rory Feely’s absence with injury against Bray was a surprise, and he was missed, as Harry Nevin was brought in by Robson to take his place. Nevin did well at right-back and should retain his place this evening with Drinan on the left, should City retain a back four, though Robson may opt to start with a different formation.