Cobh Ramblers beaten by UCD again but must regroup for Cork City clash
UCD’s Sean Murphy is fouled by Oran Crowe of Cobh Ramblers. Picture: INPHO/Nick Elliott
Cobh Ramblers' struggles with UCD this season continued with a defeat at Belfield on Friday evening.
The Students had a perfect record against Fran Rockett’s side in 2026 going into this game and their run continued with Adam Wells scoring twice from free-kicks.
It’s a damaging result for Cobh as their grip on fourth spot has loosened after Wexford’s draw with Treaty United at Ferrycarrig Park.
The Ramblers will try and pick themselves up next week when they welcome Cork City to the Great Island for the third Cork derby of the season.
Cobh now need points, after making the journey to Dublin buoyant following a run of form that has produced four wins and one defeat in their last five games.
Finn Harps were beaten last time out at St. Colman’s Park, and Rockett made two changes from that 3-1 victory with Garry Buckley and Lucas Curtin in for Mikey Carroll and Claudio Osario.
This was done as part of the implementation of a wing-back-based system that featured Breandán Frahill, Cian Coleman, and Shane Griffin in a back three, and Curtin and Luka Le Bervet positioned out wide. Buckley was stationed in midfield alongside Oran Crowe and tasked with breaking up play, a decision that helped stop UCD from playing through the middle early on.
The Students eventually took the lead with a stunning free-kick from Wells into the top right corner in the 22nd minute.
The Ramblers had nothing to offer in response, while the second half started with a searing run from Hugh Smith and the ball rolling narrowly wide at the far post.
Wells’ second was curled in with 56 minutes on the clock, and Timothy Martin was left standing in frustration after getting a hand to the ball.
Crowe responded with a chipped pass intended for Wilson Waweru, and Dara Kavanagh came out to deal with this before the striker could take a touch.
The Ramblers went on to win a corner off a long-distance attempt by Shane T. Griffin on the hour mark, and this led to a scramble in front of the posts that ended with Frahill flicking the ball wide.
Rockett eventually went to his bench in a bid to get something going, which led to the introduction of Anthony Adenopo for Rhys Brennan in the 67th minute.
The Students were in control at this point, as they searched for a third goal while Cobh were forced to take a step back and try to press in certain positions.
UCD were able to pass their way into space, leading to moments like a deep cross for Michael McCullagh that was knocked over the bar in the 73rd minute.
When Cobh got the ball back, Adenopo worked with Le Bervet to win a corner that was knocked on by Cian Coleman. The Students worked together on that occasion to scramble the ball off the goal line, a moment that effectively sealed the win despite 15 minutes left to play.
Dara Kavanagh; Luke O’Regan, Sean Murphy, Eanna Clancy, Carl Lennox; Adam Wells, Louis Dignam, Stephen Mohan, Thomas Morely, Michael McCullagh, Hugh Smith.
Charles Akimrintoyo for Mohan (62); Ciaran Behan for Dignam (63), Killian Cailloce for Smith (90).
Timothy Martin; Lucas Curtin, Breandán Frahill, Cian Coleman, Shane Griffin, Luka Le Bervet; Garry Buckley, Oran Crowe; Rhys Brennan, Shane T. Griffin, Wilson Waweru.
Anthony Adenopo for Brennan (67); Rhys Kelly Noonan for Crowe (79), Mikey Carroll for Shane T. Griffin (80), Brian Lenihan for Curtin (90).
John Sconnie Walsh
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