Cobh end Longford's play-off hopes

HAND-OFF: Cobh Ramblers' Jason Abbott tussles with Longford Town's Bastien Hery during the SSE Airtricity First Division game at St Colmans Park. . Pic: Eddie O'Hare

Airtricity League First Division

Cobh Ramblers 2 Longford Town 0

Goals from Jack Doherty and Wilson Waweru gave Cobh Ramblers a win over Longford Town on Friday night at St Colman’s Park.

The result marks the end of Longford’s chance at a playoff spot, while the Rams will have to wait until next week before securing third, after Wexford’s win over Kerry.

Ramblers came dangerously close to taking the lead after 30 minutes, with Mike McCarthy making a superb run at the Longford goal, skipping past Dylan Hand before knocking it across goal to Mikie Rowe, but his strike was skewed and hit the crossbar.

Doherty looked to break the deadlock from a free kick, and his low strike was parried by Longford keeper Jack Brady, but Wilson Waweru appeared out of nowhere to knock it into the back of the net with a diving header.

While the pace of the game certainly slowed in the second half, the Rams came close once again as Luke Desmond’s effort from outside to box again rattled the crossbar.

They eventually netted their second goal in the final minute of injury time, as Jason Abbott set Doherty off on the counterattack, and the striker made no mistake from close range.

Cobh Ramblers: Steacy; McCarthy, Browne, Eguaibor, Lyons, Waweru (McKevitt 76), Doherty, Rowe (Phillips 90), Desmond (Byrne 69), Larkin, Abbott. 

Longford Town: Brady; Daly (Fay 70), O’Brien-Whitmarsh (O Adeyemo 76), Hand, Magerusan, Temple, Serdeniuk, Boudiaf, O’Connor (J Adeyemo 76), O’Brien, Hery (Doona 88).

Referee: M Lynch.