MATCH REPORT: Cobh Ramblers 1-3 Longford Town
Match Report by Tony Ghee
Cobh Ramblers 1 (Cian Leonard ’32)
Longford Town 3 (Adam Evans ’24, ’58, Dean Byrne ’48)
Longford Town ended the regular league season with a three-one victory over Cobh Ramblers at St. Colman’s Park, to finish in third place, just behind second placed Drogheda on goal difference in the final league table.
The victory ensures second leg home advantage for the Town ahead of their October play-off against fourth placed Cabinteely who ended the regular season with a win away to Wexford FC.
Longford Town took the lead on twenty-four minutes with the game’s first real opportunity courtesy of a fine finish from winger Adam Evans.
A right-wing cross from Peter Hopkins was brilliantly controlled by Evans just inside the Cobh box, he danced to the right past defender Fleming and superbly drilled a low shot to the bottom left corner of the Cobh net.
The home side equalised on thirty-two minutes when striker Cian Leonard converted a penalty, after Town defender Joe Manley had brought down Ian Turner.
The Town regained the lead just three minutes after the resumption, after a fine flowing move
resulted in Dean Byrne firing home a brilliant shot from the edge of the Cobh box from a Hopkins left-wing cross.
The Midlanders increased their lead on fifty-eight minutes when Evans scored his second goal of the contest, heading home from Hopkins inswinging corner, to put the visitors three-one up.
The Town should have gone further ahead on sixty-eight minutes. A sublime, quick-footed move involving Byrne, Jack Doherty, Evans and Hopkins, ended with Evans cross being headed narrowly wide at the back post by Hopkins.
Longford Town’s promotion play-off first leg away to Cabinteely FC will take place at Stradbrook on Friday, October 4th, while Longford will host the second leg at the City Calling Stadium on Friday, October 11th.
Team Line-Ups
Cobh Ramblers (4-4-1-1): Hunt, Fleming, O’Riordan, Lyons, Taylor, Henry, Hurley, Turner, Lamb, Foley, Leonard.
Substitutes: Murphy for Lamb (64 minutes), Cronin for Foley (64 minutes)
Longford Town (4-2-1-2-1) or (4-3-3): Steacy, Manley, Kenna, Noack-Hoffman, Zambra, O’Connor, Doherty, Byrne, Hopkins, Evans, Dobbs.
Substitutes: McCabe for Doherty (79 minutes), O’Neill for Hopkins (85 minutes), Ubaezuonu for Dobbs (89 minutes)
