O’Neill and Mulconry blast battling Ramblers back to top

COBH RAMBLERS moved to back to the top of the First Division table level on points with Dundalk after this hard-fought win over Kildare at Station Road last night.

Despite a promising start from Kildare, Davin O’Neill’s scrambled effort just after the half-hour mark set Cobh on their way. Kildare didn’t deal with Alan Carey’s right-wing cross, Austin O’Neill saved Graham Cummins’ initial effort but O’Neill scrambled the ball home for his sixth goal of the season.

Kildare were very unlucky not to draw level after 36 minutes when Stephen Cooling crashed a 30-yard free kick off the crossbar but within a minute, Cobh had doubled their lead. Michael Mulconry cut inside Barry Clancy and beat O’Neill with a low shot.

Philip Gorman pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after 67 minutes after John Meade had fouled Dean Barrett, but despite some nervy moments in the Cobh defence in the closing moments, they held on for a vital three points and in the process, stretched their unbeaten league run to 20 games.

KILDARE COUNTY: O’Neill; Donnelly, A Byrne, McDermott, Stapleton; McArdle (Walsh 57), Cooling, Carew, Clancy; Mooney (Barrett 52), Gorman.

COBH RAMBLERS: McCarthy; Carey, Guthrie, Murray, Meade; O’Shea (Cambridge 78), Coleman (Long 75), Barrett, Mulconry; O’Neill, Cummins.

Referee: P. Sutton (Clare).