Cobh Ramblers claimed a 2-1 victory over champions Waterford on Saturday afternoon at St. Colman's Park. The early stages were a tight affair with both teams content to play possession football and keep things tight at the back. It was Cobh Ramblers
Cobh Ramblers claimed a 2-1 victory over champions Waterford on Saturday afternoon at St. Colman's Park.
The early stages were a tight affair with both teams content to play possession football and keep things tight at the back. It was Cobh Ramblers who began to assert themselves more and in the 17th minute Dave Hurley connected with a thunderous volley that was brilliantly tipped over by McLoughlin.
It was a wonderful save from the Blues keeper that kept the game scoreless. However, McLoughlin was left helpless in the 31st minute when Hurley repeated the trick but this time the ball rocketed into the top corner.
A direct ball over the top by Murphy was chested down by Leonard into the path of Hurley who struck an unstoppable shot. It was a wonder strike by the 19 year old that could be one of the goals of the season.
Waterford struggled to find any rhythm in the opening half with their best chance coming from a Keegan free kick that was inches wide. Ramblers continued to dominate early in the second half and almost doubled their lead when a Leonard free kick was almost spilled over the line by McLoughlin but the Blues keeper just recovered to prevent the goal.
Waterford could not stamp their authority on this game and fell further behind in the 74th minute when substitute Ian Mylod fired home after a neat through ball by Coleman. The Cobh winger had acres of space and expertly dispatched the ball to the net by shooting low across McLoughlin into the far corner.
Waterford went in search of a reply and got a life line in the 84th minute when a corner to the back post found Comerford who headed across goal for Walsh to nod home. Try as they might, Waterford could not find an equaliser and Ramblers claimed the spoils in the last Munster derby of the season.
