Cobh Ramblers can't wait to take on new champions Cork City at Turner’s Cross

Cobh Ramblers manager Fran Rockett says his team will be ‘chomping at the bit’ to play First Division champions Cork City this evening at the Munster FA Turner’s Cross Stadium, 7.45pm.

The club aren’t focusing on the derby, but extending their unbeaten run to five as they look to secure a play-off place.

The Ramblers’ destiny is in their own hands as they sit in fifth place, just a point from Longford Town and two away from Kerry.

Cobh are excited with the challenge of staying in the hunt and playing their rivals in their backyard, something Rockett was keen to stress when looking ahead at the next few weeks.

“Yeah, it is brilliant,” he said. “To finish with UCD and go from the team in second in the league to first in two weeks, that's what you want. This is the level we want to be at. 

"The preparation for the UCD game went up tenfold and the preparation for the Cork City game goes up tenfold.

“It's a challenge for coaches and for the players to adapt tactically and psychologically, and I think we stood up to the challenge against UCD. 

"I thought we went some and we went even more, on all levels, from a physical to a psychological point of view.

“I’m really looking forward to the Cork City game, these are the challenges you want, and the players will be chomping at the bit.

DRIVEN

“They are hurting in that dressing room after UCD, but you could see that, the way they spoke as well, I think it's going to be an interesting few weeks. I'm looking at our lads there, it's not about the staff here, I'm telling you, these players are starting to run things, and I'm really enthused by it, looking forward to it now.” 

Ramblers will go into this game reeling from last week’s dramatic 1-1 draw with UCD at St. Colman’s Park.

Cobh enjoyed a lot of possession but found it hard to penetrate the opposition defence. Then came a weaving run from Oran Crowe and it ended with the midfielder rebounding in after his original shot came off the crossbar in the 71st minute.

The Students poured forward in search of an equaliser and eventually started going long. It took just one opening for Goodness Ogbonna to get in and poke the ball beyond Timoty Martin at the Liam McMahon Stand. 

It was so late, there was no time for a restart, while fans protested the length of time added on in the stands.

Cobh are now aiming to do the double over Cork City at Turner’s Cross for the first time in their history.

The Ramblers inflicted their first ever league derby defeat on Cork City last time out, to end their local rivals unbeaten start to the season.

Dylan McGlade scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot, on a night that saw Timothy Martin produce an incredible performance to keep the home side out.

SOLID

Cobh have a decent record against City in recent years. They defeated their local rivals in three of their last meetings in the Munster Senior Cup, and they managed to come from behind to get a draw earlier this year at St Colman’s Park.

Their last meeting was a City win, with Ruairi Keating scoring the only goal of that game in the sixth minute in Cobh.

The Rebel Army continued to attack, which forced Cobh to take a step back in defence. Hans Mpongo and Cillian Murphy tried their luck on a number of occasions during this spell and attempts from distance were stopped by Martin.

Cobh did get forward on occasion with Luka Le Bervet and Anthony Adenopo running down the right wing, but neither was able to create something that really tested City.

The Ramblers have come a long way since then. They are now unbeaten in five and injury-free after a few weeks that saw the club decimated with knocks across June and July.

The carrot is upsetting their local rivals title party, and seeing if that can propel them to greater things in October.