ONE HULL OF A FIGHT
Cobh ready to scrap for cup glory says Chris
Derry City v Cobh Ramblers Brandywell, tomorrow, KO 4pm
HAVING already beaten the best team in the country, Cobh Ramblers will hold no fear of facing Derry City in tomorrow’s EA Sports Cup final.
And Chris Hull, who scored the winning goal to knock out Dundalk in the semi-final, says even playing on Derry’s artificial pitch won’t faze the First Division hopefuls.
“I think so,” said striker
Hull of their win over the Premier Division leaders having raised expectations.
He added: “Because, seeing where they are in the league, they are one of the best teams in the country.”
That said, Cobh will be under no illusions when they take to the pitch for the club’s first-ever national cup final.
“We’re still going to be underdogs, but I think people will see our run in the competition,” added Hull of their also having beaten the likes of Limerick and a good Longford Town side in earlier rounds.
“We haven’t conceded a goal. People will see that and think we should be up for it and be able to give Kenny Shiels (inset) and his Derry side a game.”
Hull insists having shown no nerves against Dundalk, Cobh will again go out and try to impose their game on Derry, the record 10-time winners of the competition. “We were all up for it,” said Hull of how they approached facing Dundalk at St Colman’s Park last month.
“We knew it was going to be a tough task. If we lost it’s what everyone would have expected.
“That’s why we went out and just tried our best and it worked out.
“The final is just taking it like another game really.”
And despite the logistics of the long journey up, the Cork club and some 300 of their fans plan on enjoying the occasion.
Hull said: “The atmosphere down in Cobh is incredible. There is really big support. We haven’t got it for league games but seeing all the support from the last few years coming back for the final is big.
“It’s going to help us out, hopefully, on the day.”