Back-to-back defeats for Waterford as Cobh Ramblers secure win

LOI Division 1

Waterford FC 0 Cobh Ramblers 2 Jack Doherty Pen ’53, Brendan Frahill ‘61 

Cobh Ramblers inflicted back-to-back defeats on second placed Waterford FC in the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division since April 2022 whilst recording consecutive wins over the Blues this season and a first win at a rain soaked RSC since April 11, 2016 thanks to second-half goals from Jack Doherty and Brendan Frahill.

It was a win that Shane Keegan’s side deserved in front of a strong home support in front of a 1,487 attendance as they punished the home side for mistakes that have continued to haunt Keith Long’s side in recent games despite his side having the best of the first-half openings.

Visiting keeper Lee Steacy made a cracking save on ten minutes to deny the Blues when Dean McMenamy slipped the ball through on the right-side for Connor Parsons, but his right-footed shot was superbly turned around the far post.

The Blues should have broken the deadlock on 26 minutes when Cameron Cresswell was sent clear on the left-side, but he screwed a shot with only keeper Steacy to beat wide of the far post before the same player had an effort blocked out on the stroke of the half-time whistle.

Cobh took the lead from a 53rd minute penalty when former Blue Mikie Rowe, who was tripped in the area by Darragh Power, but although keeper Sargeant guessed right, he couldn’t keep out Jack Doherty’s spot-kick, and a second goal arrived just past the hour-mark.

Michael McCarthy played a free-kick into the penalty area from the halfway line that saw the ball break to the top of the area for Brendan Frahill, and his deflected effort beat keeper Sam Sargeant, and although Connor Parsons struck the crossbar with an overhead effort on 63 minutes,