Cobh pull off astonishing comeback to beat Treaty

Cobh Ramblers were 2-0 down with 10 minutes to play against Treaty United.

Cian Coleman of Cobh Ramblers celebrates after scoring his side's first goal. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity First Division: Treaty United 2 (R Boevi 34, L Devitt 78) Cobh Ramblers 3 (C Coleman 82, D Bosnjack 90, C Murphy 90+2) 

An astonishing finish at Markets Field saw Cobh Ramblers scores three times in the final ten minutes to somehow take all three points against a shellshocked Treaty United side.

A goal in either half from Richkov Boevi and the outstanding Lee Devitt looked to be enough to give Tommy Barrett’s the victory, but a late collapse saw one of the First Division favourites start their season in perfect fashion.

Michael McDermott’s new-look Rams will feel they deserved something after dominating the second half but after falling two behind entering the final ten minutes, they required goals from Cian Coleman, David Bosnjak and Cian Murphy to start their season.

Twenty-year-old defender Richkov Boevi showed fine composure to control a Lee-J Lynch cross, and blast to the net for his maiden senior goal on 34 minutes.

Yoyo Mahdy had the chance to double the lead moments later, but his right-footed effort was perhaps taken too early and allowed Timothy Martin to gather. A ricochet allowed Vrljicak another opening on 37 minutes, but he couldn’t direct his effort on target.

Barry Coffey was left with his head in his hands on 53 minutes. The Tipperary native, making his debut after a switch from Cork City, skewed over after a deep corner found him unmarked. Pressure mounted for the visitors but Chambers rearguard defended resolutely during a period of Rams dominance.

After dealing with five corners in just over ten minutes, Devitt almost doubled the Limerick sides advantage. First he raced onto a through ball but was denied by Coleman when pulling the trigger – then he saw Martin claw his corner away from underneath the crossbar.

Coleman somehow failed to convert from another corner for the visitors, a combination of head and shoulder sending the ball sailing over.

Devitt was next, this time winning a corner when drawing a fine save from Martin, before curling a corner into the far top corner. Game over, many would have thought.

Cobh didn’t give up. Shane Griffin’s corner was met expertly met by Coleman who made no mistake this time around to halve the deficit.

Sub Bosnjak pounced for an equaliser with just seconds remaining of the ninety minutes, finishing after a cutback from Cian Bargary.

Then, Cian Murphy scrambled home a winner just seconds after sub keeper Carl Williams was introduced.

Treaty United: C Chambers (C Williams 90+1); E O’Connor (D Tarmey 90+1), M Walsh (C), R Boevi, F Doherty; C Conroy, B Lynch; L-J Lynch (K O’Sullivan 57), L Devitt; Y Mahdy (J Hanson 60), T Vrljicak (E Martin 90+1) 

Cobh Ramblers: T Martin; N Evers (J O’Donovan 82), C Coleman, S Griffin (C); C Bargary, S Griffin, B Coffey (J Hakkinen 82), L Le Bervet (J Abbott 82); S Bellis (D Bosnjack 78), D Holand (N O’Keeffe 60); C Murphy.

Referee: R Maher.