U-17s end Cobh’s run
WEXFORD F.C. COBH RAMBLERS 2 1
REVENGE. In the past few weeks, Cobh Ramblers have turned over both Wexford F.C’s Under-19 and Senior teams.
Billy Molloy’s Under-17 squad stood in the way of them making it three as they butted heads in the SSE Airtricity League Under-17 Southern Elite Division in Ramstown on Friday.
It was Wexford’s first game of the season and at times it certainly looked like it. While some fine-tuning is certainly required, Wexford were much better than Cobh for large segments of the game and fully deserved their win.
But despite the early pressure from the home team, a deflected clearance gifted Ian Ahern the chance to put Cobh ahead. His effort was matched impressively by Seán Maher between the Wexford sticks, immediately proving that his selection in the team was the correct one.
After Darragh Levingston saw two efforts over the bar, one deflected and one tipped over by David McDonald, Ethan O’Neill nearly announced himself to the Wexford crowd in the most sensational style. He pummelled a half volley from 30 yards, only for McDonald to leap to his right and palm it away.
Wexford were beginning to flex their muscles as Graham O’Reilly rose highest to nod Levingston’s free onto the post, and moments later they finally broke the deadlock.
Seán Smithers’ corner kick found an unmarked Kyle Scallan six yards out, and the captain made no mistake as Wexford took the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Smithers was shifted to centre-forward after the re-start and could have made an immediate impact had his header been directed away from the Cobh ‘keeper.
Caellum Travers-Devlin was coming into his own as well. He swiped over the crossbar just minutes before he met Levingston’s corner and nodded past McDonald for Wexford’s second on the hour mark.
Wexford controlled the game after doubling their lead fairly well, but an uncharacteristic Maher error gifted Luke Kennedy with an almost unmissable strike from little over six yards out.
Wexford, looking to contain Cobh’s renewed belief, defended resolutely for the final quarter of an hour.
Smithers danced around numerous defenders before putting a cross on a plate for Brian Byrne to crash against the post.
O’Neill was then somehow denied what looked to be a stone wall penalty by Derek Campion as he was hacked down in the area.
Nonetheless, Wexford held their nerve to make it one win from one. They travel to Dublin on Saturday to face a Cabinteely side which also recorded a 2-1 win over Cobh in their first game of the season.
Wexford F.C.: Seán Maher; Killian Griffin, Kyle Scallan (capt.), Kevin Murphy, Cillian McDonald; Caellum Travers-Devlin, Graham O’Reilly, Ethan O’Neill, Darragh Levingston, Seán Smithers; Brian Byrne. Subs. - Shane Gibson for Scallan (50), Robert Bulmer for Travers-Devlin (69), Dylan Whelan for O’Reilly (76), Seán O’Brien-Murphy for Byrne (83), also Aaron Hall, Luke Greene, Brody Murphy.
Cobh Ramblers: David McDonald; Cormac Buckley, Leo Barron, Mikey Foley, Fionn Molloy; Evan Donlon, Alan Happi, Dylan Twomey, Michael O’Rourke (capt.), Evan O’Sullivan; Zack Mannas. Subs. - Ian Ahern for Twomey (13), Michael Hammett for Ahern (55), Luke Kennedy for Mannas (61), Chris O’Reilly for O’Sullivan (67), Seán Dunlea for O’Rourke (76), also David Bosnjak, Conor Kenefick.
Referee: Derek Campion (Wexford).