Cobh Ramblers 5 - 0 Athlone Town St Colman's Park Sat May 29th
STEPHEN KELLY'S managerial career couldn't have gotten off to a worse start, as he saw his Athlone Town team go down 5 - 0 in Saint Colman's Park on Saturday night.
Truth be told though, Athlone were not five goals worse than Cobh. Two dodgy penalties and an even dodgier sending off for Niall Donnelly didn't help Athlone's cause. They started brightly putting Cobh under serious pressure, and should have been awarded a penalty themselves after 25 minutes, when 'keeper Peter Cuthbert handled outside the box denying Adrian Murphy, but referee Steven Meighan only awarded a free in.
Cobh had taken the lead four minutes earlier from the penalty spot, when Des Hope was adjudged to have taken down Darren Murphy in the box. The penalty was awarded despite the fact that Hope cleared the ball in mid-air, as Murphy just fell to the ground. Stevie Yelverton converted the penalty. Town went off the boil after going behind, and didn't threaten again until the 44th minute when Stevie Gavin saw his close range header superbly saved by Cuthbert.
Cobh extended their lead five minutes into the second half, Murphy turning Hope in the box to take his goal well. Niall Donnelly was given his matching orders three minutes later when he kicked Robert Brosnan. However it wasn't that clear cut, as Brosnan ran across the player just as he was about to kick the ball.
Town pulled one back through Adrian Murphy, but his perfectly placed header was very harshly ruled out for offside as nothing was going Town's way. Four minutes later, Cobh were three up. Dave Warren hooked the ball over Silke and O'Keefe on the left touchline, which fell to Tony Tynan. His cross was met by Yelverton who sent a low thumping header to the back of the net.
Thirteen minutes from time, and Terry White made it 4 - 0 from a direct free-kick on the right wing. The rout was completed four minutes from time, again from the penalty spot. Tom Silke was adjudged to have taken down Eoin Conlon, when most felt that a free out for diving was the most appropriate decision. Not Yelverton though as he blasted the ball home to complete his hat-trick, and move Cobh above the table with only their second win of the season.
Cobh Ramblers: Peter Cuthbert, Anthony Wolfe, Terry White, John Andrews, Darren Murphy, Tony Tynan, James Cummins, Eoin Conlon, Stevie Yelverton, Robert Brosnan, Dave Warren. Subs: Dave Moore for Cummins [69], Gareth O'Donovan for Murphy [73].
Athlone Town: Graeme Loughman, Grame O'Keefe, Michael Collins, Tom Silke, Des Hope, Niall Donnelly, Steven Gavin, Damien Rushe, John McNicholas, Adrian Murphy, Mick McCann. Subs: Eric Molloy for Hope [61], Padraig Moran for McCann [78], Michael Harney for Gavin [78]
Referee: Steven Meighan
