Cobh Ramblers manager Stuart Ashton was a relieved man after his side came out the right side of a seven-goal thriller against Limerick FC at the Markets Field. Ashton’s Cobh led 3-0 at the break, but had to withstand a spirited comeback from the ho
Cobh Ramblers manager Stuart Ashton was a relieved man after his side came out the right side of a seven-goal thriller against Limerick FC at the Markets Field.
Ashton’s Cobh led 3-0 at the break, but had to withstand a spirited comeback from the home side in the second half.
Two goals from Brian Murphy and an Ian Turner has Cobh in firm control of the contest. However, Sean McSweeney and Karl O’Sullivan gave Limerick a lifeline.
A cheeky Dave Hurley penalty secured all three points for Cobh, despite Lee Devitt’s late goal for the home side. Ashton was a relieved man after the game.
“From what was a brilliant first half and then we nearly gave it away,” was how the Cobh boss described an enthralling contest.
“We knew that they had to come at us at some stage. They weren’t just going to leave it at 3-0 and they had nothing to lose and we just didn’t deal with it.
“It went from 3-0 to 3-2 and then we have had some chances. In the end we could have had another couple of goals. For the fans it was a great game.
“For people involved and as coaches, we have to be better and the lads have to learn from that. You could say that we got away with it, but overall, on the first half performance, we probably deserved the win.”
After Limerick’s fine start to the second half, Cobh were happy to hit on the counter and were rewarded when Turner was adjudged to have been fouled inside the penalty area.
Up stepped Hurley and with extreme confidence and cheek, he put the game beyond Limerick and secured all three points for Cobh.
To say that Ashton was relieved that the penalty was tucked away by Hurley would be an understatement given the way he went about it.
“At first I was saying that it was great that Dave was taking it and then he came up with that little shimmy and we all went ‘oh no’.
“It was relief that it went into the back of the net. I don’t know where he has seen that one from, but fair play to him for doing it at that stage of the game.
“It’s what we are looking for as well is the kind of confidence to do those things. I probably don’t agree with the timing of it, but fair play to him.”
