O’Connor brace sees Ramblers to victory

THERE will be at least one Cork side in the last eight of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup, as first Division side Cobh Ramblers overcame Munster Senior League outfit Ringmahon Rangers at Turner’s Cross yesterday.

Ramblers were professional throughout and they were always in control, against what was a spirited Ringmahon side.

Both sides are after having a good recent few months, Ringmahon got to the semifinals of the FAI Intermediate Cup , while Cobh are in contention for the play-offs in the SSE Airtricity League First Division after a recent good run of form.

Stephen Henderson has his side playing some good football and the future is bright for his young and talented squad.

With six minutes on the clock, Cobh took the lead through Connor Ellis, with the on loan man from Cork City doing well to make space for himself inside the box, before finishing clinically to the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Cobh doubled their lead on the quarter hour mark, as Shane O’Connor, a former Liverpool youth team player, got on the end of a good through ball and slotted past Eoghan Daly in the Ringmahon goal.

O’Connor would get goal number three for Ramblers on 25 minutes, when he was on hand to finished well to the corner, following a good finish on the volley. He is a big element to this side and his form will be crucial if they want to sustain their play-off ambitions. Ringmahon are still in preseason, they don’t get their Munster Senior League campaign going until next Tuesday, but they play good football when given the chance and pulled a goal back before the break. Following a good ball over the top by Dean Swords, Patrick O’Brien scored with a neat chip over Paul Hunt.

Ringmahon started the second half the brighter of the two sides, but Cobh to their credit looked solid and efficient defensively. With 69 minutes on the clock, Ramblers effectively settled the tie, when Rob Lehane finished with a powerful low drive to the left hand side. ringmahon rangerS: E Daly; J Forde, A Higgins, A Kidney (R Delaney, HT, K O’Regan, 69), M Noah Cisse; P Deasy, R Kenny; P O’Brien, D Swords, R Coughlan; J Delaney (C Kearney, HT). Cobh rambLerS: P Hunt; B O’Riordan, C McCarthy, K Mulcahy; A O’Donnell (S McCarthy, 84), I Mylod, S O’Connor, C Kingston, G Comerford; C Ellis (J Creamer, 87), R Lehane (E McGreevy, 80). referee: D Keeler (Cork).