We enter meteorological summer in a country not renowned for its summer weather (33C is the highest temperature ever recorded on the island) knowing another couple of wins in the league will put us right in the mixer for the play-off places.
We visit Finn Harps in our first trip to Donegal in this save – We should be looking for the win in that one, a Munster Senior Cup Final v non-league Mervue Utd and a home game versus a recently-lacklustre Galway. 6 Points this month will put us on 28 with 10 games left. We finished the 2020 season on 36 points and 2019 (Which we managed for 9 games in) on 29.
Firstly the stats from a month of two halves.
Daire Doherty coming on brilliantly – Composure & Off-the-Ball very nice indeed. Lyamine Mihoubi up to 16 pace as well!!
A few drops but nothing too drastic.
A decent month stat-wise. Eoin Porter (AP) and Ethan Devine (CAR) doing very well with the passing stats, David Evans, Daire Doherty & Charlie Fleming completing plenty of crosses. Ben O’Riordan and Adam Hughes king of the headers & Interceptions. The right-backs were a bit mistake-y in May. Lyamine showed his dribbling prowess in his game as well.
Daire Doherty picked up goal of the month for his free kick v Longford.
B- from the board currently.
The dynamics are very good currently.
4th June 2021 – Finn Harps (A) – First Division
We make our first journey to Finn Park, Ballybofey, in Co. Donegal to face a Finn Harps side in quite changeable form, last 5 games form reading LWWDL, the last game a loss at Athlone Town.
Hourihane is in for Eoin Porter, who is in his rehab phase. Mihoubi is in for Dara Costelloe, who is really disappointing at the moment. Phillips is back at left-back, Hurley comes in as the BWM. Hill & Hughes is the centre-back partnership. We are going with a slower, more deliberate, very short passing style.Finn Harps go with a 4-4-2, after playing a weird 3-1-4-2 for the first part of the season.
FT Finn Harps 1 (Kelly 10) Cobh Ramblers 1 (Devine 50) Att 897 (14 Away)
Harps on top at the start, and they went 1-0 up in the 10th minute, a screamer top left bins by Liam Kelly. Doherty could have equalised in the 15th minute, but 1-on-1’s don’t work still. We went a bit more attacking from balanced, and played a fair bit better. However Hughes had to go off with a poorly foot after a coming together with Donnelly whilst making a lovely challenge – 39th minute – O’Riordan on. Donnelly also off with a foot injury. 1-0 at HT.
Turner on for Evans as we move our wingers back and bring our lines really tight, trying to pull their back-line up the pitch a bit. Harps looking dangerous again but the breakthrough for Cobh came in the 50th minute – a 70-yard ball by Turner finding Mihoubi on his own – his squared ball found Hourihane, who flicked it to Devine – a tap in for him from 6 yards. 1-1. Come on boys!!!! Harps look so dangerous going forward though. McCormack on for the last 20 as a TM(A). It should have been 2-1 Cobh in the 75th – Mihoubi’s 1-on-1 saved by Byrne…. getting a few chances now, but we are so bad in front of goal š McCormack and Turner also missing sitters. And another save by Byrne, from McCormack again… Played really well in the second half. It finished 1-1, how the hell didn’t we win that….
Cabinteely pull off a huge win v Bray, and Limerick’s win v Wexford send them top. Draws in the other two games means Galway stay 4 points ahead of us, and that’s our next league game after the Munster Senior Cup Final versus Mervue Utd in 5 days time.
Our U19’s drew 2-2 with Limerick U19’s, goals from 18yo AMR Paul Caulfield and 17yo AMC David Keogh.
9th June 2021 – Mervue Utd (N) – Munster Senior Cup Final
For the 2nd season in a row we make the short journey to Turners Cross to play in the Munster Senior Cup Final, this time versus non-league Mervue Utd. We are 33-1 on with the bookies, lets go and retain the trophy.
Costelloe back in on the left wing, Taylor at left back and Phillips in the middle of the park as the BWM. Hughes & O’Riordan are the centre-backs as Hill is suspended. Mervue start with a 4-4-2 Narrow Diamond.
FT Mervue Utd 1 (Walsh 90+4) Cobh Ramblers 3 (O’Riordan 35, Evans 56, McCormack 82) Att 442 (45 Cobh fans!!!) – At Turners Cross, Cork.
Mervue on the attack in the opening moments. As expected though Cobh turn the screw and rack up the chances. Doherty hit the bar with a header in the 34th minute, and from a free kick that was won soon after Doherty found ben O’Riordan, who headed home beautifully. 1-0 Cobh. And that’s how the half ended. Dominant as we should be.
Mervue again start the half well but were down to 10 men in the 50th minute, Farrell with a second yeloow for a challenge on Costelloe. The pressure is now on Mervue. And it was 2-0 in the 56th minute, David Evans running 70 yards unchallenged before tapping it under the Mervue Keeper from 6 yards. Taylor off (On a booking) for Hurley, who swaps with Phillips. Mervue all at sea now as the minutes take their toll. McCormack on for Doherty with 25 left. Turner on for Costelloe with 11 minutes left of normal time. And McCormack scored in the 82nd, flicking a header from Mike Hourihane past the Mervue Keeper Healy – looked offside to me… mervue scored a consolation in the final seconds, a long ball over the top, Walsh running on. It finished 3-1 – Cup Winners for the 2nd season in a row š
Ā£6,760 into the coffers for the win. 19 medals given out. However Ā£7k got paid out to the Squad & Staff š Galway Utd are next up in the league in 9 days. We now are into the second part of the season where we only have a game every two weeks.
Adam Mylod – Tight Groin – Out for 1-2 days. 5 days to the Galway game, he should be OK.
Kane Lewis – Pulled Groin – Out for 3-6 days – Done v Longford U19’s
And a stacked U19’s team beat Longford U19’s 3-0, Turner, McSweeney & Mihoubi with the goals.
Keano is excited by our form š And the bookies have us favourites v Galway as well… Evens v 12/5…
18th June 2021 – Galway Utd (H) – Irish First Division
Tonight we welcome a Galway team currently in 3rd position but playing inconsistently (LLWLD). We know how dangerous they are though. This is possibly the biggest game this season – a win would put us 1 point behind Galway with 10 games left, and all to play for.
I’ve found this today though – Compare Carrick Hill (4.5* CA) v Ben O’Riordan (3* CA)…
Looking at this and how many attributes Ben has better than Carrick it’s a tough one to see a 1.5* difference – Just Decisions & Concentration stand out in Carrick’s favour, and 6cm in height. A such I’ll be keeping the O’Riordan/Hughes partnership today.
Nolan starts in place of a very disappointing Costelloe (Galway is his parent club) – Will need to take a closer look at why he’s not thriving as a winger when its his favoured position – Thinking maybe trying him as an AP(A) on the wing as he’s got good flair. Doherty is going to start as a TM(A), just to see if that gets him into better positions. Abbott in as the BWM – in comparison he is leaps-and-bounds the best, with Phillips back as left-back. Galway go with a 4-4-1-1 – Conor Barry the threat out on the right.
FT Cobh Ramblers 1 (O’Riordan 68) Galway Utd 1 (Wright 34) Att 412 (80 Away)
A good first minute or so for Cobh, on the attack, but nothing coming from it. Not much coming from Galway, who are sitting deep. But disaster in the 34th minute, a Galway Freek Kick, Andre Wright unmarked, heads in from 14 yards or so. 1-0 Galway. Abbott injured in the 42nd minute – Hurley on in his place. 1-0 at HT, very close game indeed.
Galway scored in the 49th, but Wright was 6 yards offside. Turner on for Nolan on 55, playing on the left as an inverted winger. gain, we’re getting chances, but never look like scoring them. So frustrating. But a massive goal in the 68th minute, it’s that man O’Riordan agin, a lovely power-header through Horgan’s hands at the far post from an Ian Turner wide free-kick. Game on! Galway piling on the pressure now. Hourihane on for the last 15, Devine off, Porter back to Centre-Mid. FFS, Turner with a 1-on-1 with 10 left, saved by Horgan. Doherty got himself sent off in the final seconds for a two-footed challenge on Rudy and it finished 1-1 – another dominated game with no result.
Really frustrating, as Cabinteely move above Galway into 3rd with a win over Wexford. Finn Harps stay 3 points behind us with a draw at Limerick, and Bray also draw, with Longford to stay 2nd. Athlone pick up another win, this time versus U.C.D., moving into 8th.
So that’s the last game of the month (It’s the 18th!), below will be any more news that deserves column inches and the round-up of the Key Highlights of this month’s matches.
Jason Abbott – Twisted Ankle – Out for 5-6 Weeks – With our schedule he may only miss 2 games…
Our U19’s lost 3-0 to Waterford U19’s the day after the Galway game.
I’ve set up a friendly for the 25th versus Cobh Wanderers – I want to see how a few other players would do in this formation, plus I want to give Dara Costelloe a go as an AP(A) out on the left wing.
As it’s past the middle of June I thought I’d collate all the winners of the major trophies around Europe:
The top 5 leagues in Europe won by Liverpool, Real Madrid, Inter, FC Bayern & Paris SG – Pretty much as expected, maybe Barcelona only finishing 3rd is the biggest surprise. Real Madrid beat Liverpool in the Champions League final.
We’ve had a preview of the Youth Intake – doesn’t look too bad.
Ben O’Riordan makes the team of the week for the First Division.
Very interesting – It would be good if Scully moves from Limerick as he’s a pain in the arse š
25th June – Friendly – Cobh Ramblers 3 (Costelloe 9, 41, Ebbe 42) Cobh Wanderers 0 Att 524 (109 Away)
A decent showing, nice to see Costelloe get some goals, Kane Lewis with 2 Assists. Ian Turner injured though…
Ian Turner – Twisted Ankle – 5 to 6 Weeks – Again, not so bad due to our schedule.
The mid-season transfer window has now opened – not expecting to do much business TBH.
Our U19’s beat St. Peter’s Athlone 5-3, Goals from 17yo AMR Mike Meade, Steven Nolan, Dean Ebbe & 2 from centre-back James McSweeney.
It looks like Carrick Hill may be off to Dundalk – Not too bad really, I think he is over-rated from his performances so far this season, though he is only 19. 40% of next sale might work well if he goes back to England.
And to round the month off our U19’s had another friendly, Winning 2-1 v Janesboro, 19yo DL Triallist Harrison Hatton & James McSweeney (Again) with the goals.
So to July, we have 3 league matches:
Looking for at least 6 points. See you soon.