College take another League of Ireland scalp
UCC 3Cobh Ramblers 2A late 94th minute goal from ex-Cobh Ramblers player Seán O’Mahony was enough to see Munster Senior League side UCC progress to the quarter finals of the EA Sports Cup at the expense of Cobh Ramblers in the Mardyke yesterday.Stephen Henderson’s Cobh side trailed for the entire game but looked to have rescued a draw to send the game to extra-time after Rob Waters’ thunderbolt hit the back of the net, only for O’Mahony to fire home a minute later to send the students through.Following on with the momentum from beating Wexford Youths in the first round, UCC's opening goal arrived on 26 minutes when Seán O’Callaghan was fouled on the edge of the box. Jason Abbott’s in-swinging free kick was headed in by Cian Hill from six yards to put the students in front.Cobh nearly had an equaliser up the other end of the field on 36 minutes when Jonathan Creamer’s cross was hit out for a corner just as Stephen Kenny was about to strike.The second half was only seven minutes old when Murphy embarked on a long dribble from the halfway line, skipping past numerous tackles before despatching the ball past David Browne in the box with the keeper getting a hand to it as it crossed the line.Cobh introduced Waters and Irish U-19 international Ryan Goldsmith on 58 minutes in the hope of starting a comeback. Firstly O’Connor’s corner was headed in by Waters on 88 minutes and this gave Cobh hope of getting another goal.They were proved right on 92 minutes when UCC only half cleared the ball and the ball fell to Waters who smashed it on the volley from 30 yards into the top corner of the goal.Everybody was expecting the game to go to extra-time until Conor Barry won a late corner for UCC. The ball went over the top and then back into the box with O’Mahony getting a foot to the ball sending it into the bottom corner of the goal and allowing UCC progress to the next round of the EA Sports Cup.UCC: Jason O’Mahony; Andrew Gannon, Cian Hill, Seán O’Mahony, Cian Murphy; Jason Abbott, Brian Murphy (Darragh Corcoran 81), Cathal Lordan; Seán O’Callaghan (Rufus Holmes 82), Conor Barry, Calvin O’Callaghan (Ian Mylod 66).Cobh Ramblers: David Browne; Adam O’Sullivan, Brendan Frahil, Andrew Bhandarkar, Shane O’Connor; David Curran (Stephen McCarthy 28, injured), Audi Dunlea, Stephen Kenny; Jonathan Creamer (Ryan Goldsmith 58), Kynan Rocks, Ronan Stanton (Rob Waters 58).