Just the 3 games this month, 2 must-win games v Bray (1st) and Wexford (last) in the league and the FAI Cup QF v Bohemians.
Now, i’ve not played this save in over 3 weeks due to life getting in the way – I need to get acquainted with the boys again, after our 11 game run of not losing was ended by Cabinteely when we were chasing the result.
That leaves us 4 points of the playoffs with 5 games left – If Cabo win 3 out of the 5 we’re looking for Galway or Limerick to really fade, otherwise its another year of toil and failing finances (Or moving on…)
A ‘B’ from the board – At least the squad loves me 🙂
Dynamics are on the money
Our U19’s have played and beat Clonmel Town 6-1 – goals from Evan Murphy, Dean Ebbe, David Hurley (Also got a tight groin, 2/3 days) and a hat-trick from Eoin McCormack.
9th September 2021 – Bray Wanderers(H) – First Division
So we’ve gotten to the 9th September and we entertain top of the table Bray Wanderers, who aren’t in a brilliant run of form (LWDLL in the last 5).
We’ve got a nicely settled best 11 (Hence the really good cohesion currently) and we know that we’ve got big wins in us (U.C.D. & Finn Harps recently) so I’m going with the usual boys. If Evans and/or Costelloe have big games we’ve got a good chance here. Bray run with an odd 4-1-3-2, looking to play very wide by the looks of it. Could be a good clash of styles.
FT Cobh Ramblers 5 (Sammon 12, 25, 29 Devine 19, 61) Bray Wanderers 2 (Stapleton 23, Massey 74) Att 412 (85 Away)
A good start from the Cobh lads, a few chances early on. Bray looking dangerous as expected going forward. The breakthrough came in just the 12th minute – a wonderful direct Free Kick from that man Sammon. Some real scrambling by the Bray defence stops Cobh going 2 up. #SCENES, Cobh go 2-0 up in the 19th minute, Fleming ghosting by the Bray left back, crossing beautifully, Ethan Devine getting to the ball first at the front post, heading powerfully past Hayden in the Bray goal (For some reason first choice Sava is not playing – no injuries – and this is Hayden’s 2nd game of the season). We’re looking so good on the break as well today. But it was 2-1 in the 23rd, a very nice move giving Stapleton a tap-in (1st goal of the season). But almost straight from kick-off Cobh made it 3-1!!!! A lovely Porter through-ball, Sammon running on and scoring from a tight angle (One of those weird ones where the keeper doesn’t come and get what should have been a simple take). 4 goals in the first 25 minutes!! It should have been 4 almost straight after – Costelloe not pulling the trigger but passing it back inside. We only had to wait to the 29th minute though!!!!!!! Another amazing ball by Porter and Sammon gets his hat-trick!!! A beautiful finish from 18 yards, breaking the offside trap to the centimetre. 4-f**king-1 after 29 minutes!!! Sammon with a 17 minute hat-trick! And we keep pushing!! And we scored again just before HT, but it was disallowed for pushing – it’s an absolute schelacking at the moment. 4-1 at half-time.
Getting Mihoubi on at Half Time for Costelloe – 16 Pace/Acc will hopefully cause a few issues. Been getting messages that Sammon has a tight thigh – he’s got better condition than most of the Cobh boys… No stupid 4-alls please! We do seem to have had the run of the midfield – I said the formation looked weird! Another disallowed goal in the 47th – O’Riordan offside at the back post. The next 15 minutes were relatively quiet, but it was 5-star Cobh in the 61st, another Charlie Fleming cross after his thrown on was headed back to him by Porter, and Ethan Devine popped up 8 yards out to head home through Keeper Hayden’s hands. 5-1. Mental! With The cup QF in mind Sammon comes off to a standing ovation, Daire Doherty on. And a 3rd offside goal, beautiful play, but Porter was adjudged offside (the pass from Evans looked backwards though…) – scrub that, it was Evans initially – correct decision. Last sub with 20 left, Abbott for Phillips – on a yellow plus a bit knackered. 5-2 in the 74th – A 25 yard thunderbolt from Massey (1st goal of the season….). 5-2 at full time, a majestic performance 🙂
Cabinteely need to slip up 🙂 They play U.C.D. tomorrow. Galway win to stay 9 points above us with Bray 10 with 4 games left. Limerick are 5 points ahead and play Longford tomorrow also.
Brian Sammon – Bruised Thigh – Out for 2-6 days – A real shame that he’ll miss the cup QF.
Two dropped points 🙂 U.C.D. doing us a massive favour, and Limerick stay 8 points ahead, so in reality its just us and Cabo. Our last 4 games are v 2nd, 7th, 8th & 10th, Cabinteely v 1st, 7th, 9th & 10th. 4 Wins required, plus Bray to take points off of Cabo please 🙂
Our U19’s drew 2-2 with Cork City U19’s, 19yo AMR Paul Caulfield and 19yo AMC Shane O’Flynn with the goals
12th September 2021 – Bohemians (A) – FAI Cup Quarter Final
A big day today, we travel the 167 miles to Dalymount Park, Dublin 7, to play a Bohemians side 9th in the Premier Division; the only games they’ve won since the start of July have been cup games, the first 2 rounds of the FAI Cup and the 3rd Round of the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer v SPFL League 2 side Elgin City. £21k to the winner, replay if level after 90 minutes. The bookies have Bohemians 4/5 on, us 3/1 but i feel we may have a decent chance here.
8-goals-in-5-games Brian Sammon is on the bench – I may be able to get 30 mins out of him if we need him, so Daire Doherty steps into the breach. Dave Hurley back as BWM as Phillips is suspended for Yellows. Just want more of the same please. Not one of the Bohemian regulars averages more than 6.98 this season – Indeed Keeper Liam O’Donovan (Who we released at the end of the 2019 season) averages 6.27! if we have as much attacking threat as in our last game this should be ours for the taking. Bohemian F.C. start with a 4-4-2. Lets do this!!!!
FT Bohemians 1 (Grant 31) Cobh Ramblers 3 (Doherty 1, Costelloe 40, Sammon Pen 88) Att 1,411 (17 Away)
What. A. Start! Cobh in their Sky Blue shirts, 33 seconds on the clock, an expansive Cobh move, another pinpoint Charlie Fleming cross and Daire Doherty is there to head in his 8th goal of the season past an unmoving O’Donovan. 1-0 Cobh!!!! The boys are up for it! Bohemians start coming back into the game, Corcoran hitting the bar with a header in the 15th. O’Riordan close to a second in the 20th, hit header beaten off the line by O’Donovan. And we keep getting chances! Porter again the provider of most of them. But Bohemians show their quality – 1-1 in the 31st, a nice move finished from 8 yards by Grant. The reply took 9 minutes 🙂 Another Charlie Fleming cross, misread by the Bohemians right-back, Dara Costelloe on hand to control beautifully and shoot majestically high into the Bohemians net from 15 yards. 2-1 Cobh. We’ve got a proper cup tie here! And we keep attacking, chances coming thick and fast. And it really should have been 3 in injury time, Evans not finishing off what was a lovely counter. We goi in 2-1 to the good, a superb half of football for the neutral.
No changes at Half Time, lets keep it going (Please!!!) And we get to 60 minutes with no dramas. Sammon on for (The booked) Doherty. Taylor looking a bit mistakey (And also booked), so Lewis on for him, Fleming to left wingback just before 70 minutes. Cobh definitely still having the better of the game, Costelloe denied his second by a good O’Donovan save. Feels like we’re going to get stiffed here though… 74th minute, Sammon in on goal shoots wide 🙁 We’ve had plenty of chances to put this to bed. Hoping Cohesion and morale will get us through. 79th minute, Fleming with a lovely headed clearance off the line. Squeaky Bum. Last 10, Evans misses another one-on-one, is both knackered and might have taken a knock – Mihoubi on as an Inverted Winger on Attack – Just run at them Lyamine!! And a massive moment – 87th minute, and a penalty to Cobh, O’Riordan adjudged to have been pushed in the box. Initially Kane Lewis was to take the penalty – I quickly changed that to Brian Sammon. he steps up… AND SCORES, bottom left. 3-1 Cobh, definitely deserved!! And we still attack – now into injury time. And the clock ticks down, Full Time here in Dublin, 3-1 Cobh, a famous result 🙂 And lets not forget about the money!! Under £50k in the red now.
Our Senior affiliates Shamrock Rovers are through with us, and there will be 2 replays in a few days. Galway would be a good semi, and it would be nice to not have to play Shamrock as Brian Sammon won’t be able to play, as he’s owned by them… The Semi Final is on 3rd October. And to the draw…
I’ll take it – we entertain either Waterford (2nd) or Derry City (6th). Both will have a league game a few days before.
Ok , next game in 12 days, let’s get the guys fit and raring to go.
5 of the lads make the First Division Team of the Week after the heroics versus Bray.
And we will be playing Derry City (Who beat us 3-1 in the league Cup QF at theirs) in the Semi Final – Possibly 180 successful minutes from Europe next season… Feel like we could take an Andorran team in a preliminary qualification round and make a few tens-of-thousands pounds profit 🙂 🙂
Our U19’s beat Freebooters 3-1, Evan Murphy, Dean Ebbe & John Douglas with the goals.
Dundalk are the last semi finalists, devastating Galway with a 92nd minute goal to win 3-2.
Our U19’s had another game, drawing 1-1 with Arklow, the goal from Eoin McCormack. Both Jack Lynch and Kevin Taylor picked up injuries, Kev pulled knee ligaments (2/3 weeks) and Jack a bruised thigh (3-6 days). Kev’s been playing recently but has not shone, so I’ll go back to having Charlie play on the left and have Kane come back in on the right.
24th September 2021 – Wexford (A) – First Division
We take the trip east to play a Wexford side 8 points adrift at the bottom of the league, but they won their first league game since February last time out versus Athlone Town. As such as per normal in FM expect a really difficult game. I’m staying Positive in my instructions, and am hoping our class will out; the class that has scored 8 in the last 2 games versus very strong opposition, the class that saw us beat Bohemians 6-2 on chances.
Kev Taylor is out so Charlie Fleming goes to left back, Kane Lewis in at right. Pierce Phillips is available so comes back in to the BWM(D) role. The wingers are pushing on a bit more, the wingbacks supporting; we’re going for the jugular early doors. Wexford go with a 4-4-2.
FT Wexford 1 (Furlong pen 21) Cobh Ramblers 3 (Evans 23, Costelloe 25, 57) Att 209 (30 Away)
We’re in sky blue again this even versus the blacks of Wexford. And of course Wexford have the better of the early chances… Furlong hitting the bar with a lob… And in the 20th minute Wexford get a penalty, apparent pushing from Costelloe… 1-0 Wexford (Furlong). Thankfully it was back level under 3 minutes later, nice forward play and another Charlie Fleming assist, a cross headed home well by David Evans. 1-1. And it was 2-1 Cobh just 2 minutes later, an absolute thunderbolt from Costelloe from a good 25 yards, maybe a bit more. That’s a bit more like it, though this feels like a 5-4 in the making… And we scored again in the 32nd minute, a parried Costelloe shot allowed Sammon in, but he was adjudged to be offside. Feels a bit more like the last couple of games now, incessant pressure from Cobh, Donnelly in the Wexford net just about keeping them in it. 2-1 at HT, we should have finished this off by now.
No changes at half time. More chances in the first 10, but a real lack of quality in the finishing. Dropping the tempo to standard as it all feels a bit rushed. Really need that 3rd. And we get it in the 57th!!!, more lovely breaking play, a precise pass from Porter and Costelloe is on hand to score from a tight angle. 3-1 Cobh. Wexford aren’t giving up on this though, but we’re rushing them on the ball and getting it back most of the time, sprouting chances of our own on the break. Kane Lewis looking knackered so John Douglas comes on, Fleming to right-back. Phillips is on a yellow so Dave Hurley comes on for the last 10. Wexford still looking dangerous, Mylod with a great save from Stokes with 6 left. Doherty on for Sammon for the last 5. We’ve done really well in this second half, and taken the game away from a Wexford side that has given us more problems than both Bray & Bohemians combined. And it finished 3-1, a really good win.
Cabo sneak a 1-0 at Longford and Limerick go top after beating Bray. 3 games left, we need perfection and a Cabinteely slip-up.
That’s it for the games this month, but we have a few more bits to go through.
I’ve started offering new contracts as we’ve only got a month left. The takers so far are as follows:
- John Douglas (18, DL) – £40/wk 1 year
- Axel Bernet (18, DC) – £35/wk 1 year
Our U19’s have secured a National league Play-off spot with Shamrock Rovers, Waterford and Cork City, even though they lost 4-1 to UCD U19’s (The goal from Ryan Keogh). Cobh played 77 minutes with 10 men after Stephen Cunningham was sent off.
We’ve had the youth intake – potentially 6 signings, though we will await the triallists match to see if these star ratings are accurate.
Adam, Dara & Eoin in the 1st Division Team of the Week 🙂
More Contract signings 🙂
- Eoin Porter (22, AMC) – £130/wk 1 Year
- Ben O’Riordan (24, DC) – £85/wk 1 Year
- Charlie Fleming (23, DR) – £160/wk 1 Year
- Lyamine Mihoubi (19, ML) – £40/wk 1 Year
- Adam Hughes (24, DC) – £160/wk 1 Year
- Pierce Phillips (23, MC) – £130/wk 1 Year
Our U19’s played the triallists, with the triallists running out 3-2 winners, 2 goals from Eoin McCormack for the U19’s, goals from Kenny Carroll (DC), John O’Brien (AMR) and Eoin Lee (STC) for the triallists. Signings now being made,
And some more new contracts:
- Mike Hourihane (17yo, AMC) £40/wk 1 Year
- Ethan Devine (22yo MC) £160/wk 1 Year
- Dave Hurley (22yo MC) £95/wk 1 Year
- Adam Mylod (24yo GK) £80/wk 1 Year
Some big names like Ian Turner (Now 32) will be going at the end of the season – I’m hoping to free up somewhere in the region of £1200/wk to go hunting for some good (young) talent.
And with that we hit October 1st. The biggest month in the save coming up:
The FAI Cup Semi followed by 3-must-win league games. Lastly below are the key highlights from the 3 games this month. See you soon.