Dundalk edge Cobh Ramblers to extend lead at top of the First Division

Irish Examiner

4 days ago

DUNDALK 1 (Gbemi Arubi 13)
COBH RAMBLERS 0
Moving week in the League of Ireland didn't end with Cobh Ramblers usurping Dundalk for top spot thanks to Gbemi Arubi's early winner.
Dundalk have risen from the ashes of near extinction last September to holding within their control an immediate return to the Premier Division through a four-point cushion.
Cobh, with the transfer window opening on Tuesday, will still fancy reeling in Ciarán Kilduff's Lilywhites with 15 games left but look certain to at least have a playoff shot at returning to the Premier stage they last graced in 2008.
Whereas one set of fans demanded promotion, the other in Cobh were able to dream of a Premier Division.
That optimism originated from the fan-owned club being taken into private ownership, international consortium F32 vowing to elevate Cobh to 'new heights.' That was evident in the arsenal of funds new manager Mick McDermott was supplied with, facilitating the recruitment of several players part of Cork City's First Division title winning team.
In fact, adding in former Waterford duo Niall O'Keefe and Shane Griffin, only two of the outfield starters at Oriel hadn't tasted promotion over the past two years.
It wasn't long, however, before fears grew over the sustainability of that spend when the multi-club mothership encountered financial difficulties. Funds were guaranteed to a certain juncture, by which the custodians required a replacement to maintain levels. Assiduous work in the background ensured continuity.
That potential turbulence didn't detract from results, the Rams joining Bray Wanderers in providing the competition for the pacesetters in Co Louth.
A haul of 28 points from a possible 33 over the last 11 games, allied to Dundalk encountering their first blip of the campaign, lifted them to within a point of the leaders.
Momentum was on their side in the psychology of being able to leave Oriel with top spot but their plan to be patient by quieting the home crowd went askew after only 13 minutes.
Cobh's defensive partnership of Cian Coleman and Shane Griffin – First and Premier Division winners respectively last year – were tested by lofted crosses early and their failure to deal with Luke Mulligan's delivery from the right cost them.
Eoin Kenny was involved in the build-up too and his presence in the box caused hesitancy but Arubi still had to execute a brilliant acrobatic volley to send the ball zipping past Timothy Martin.
Arubi was a graduate of Damien Duff at Shelbourne in his teens and at 21 inhabits the middle section of the age-scale across Dundalk's team. Vinnie Leonard turned 17 in March while at the other end of the spectrum of Keith Ward.
Having the 34-year-old, along with former Ireland winger Daryl Horgan two years his junior, is vital to navigating the chase for the only and only direct ticket to next year's Premier Division.
Dean Ebbe is another thirty-something wh0's been around the block and was close to converting Horgan's dinked cross to the back post just past the half hour mark.
Arubi could have had more by the end of a half in which Cobh were second best, unable to reproduce their recent form.
Home 'keeper Enda Minogue was busier after the break, denying Barry Coffey from an acute angle and turning over a long-range shot by Jonas Häkkinen.
Dundalk also fashioned openings to extend their buffer. Ebbe was brushed off the ball by O'Keeffe as he was poised to convert Horgan's cutback while Kenny saw his raking drive hacked off the goal-line by Coleman.
Horgan himself raced clear in stoppage time, only to be foiled by Luxembourg native Martin in the visitors' goal.
Two late bookings incurred for Coleman saw him suffer a similar red card fate to what he suffered on his last trip to Oriel with Cork City.
Elsewhere 10-man Wexford produced a sensational comeback from 3-1 to secure a memorable 4-3 victory against Kerry, who saw Sean McGrath net a first half hat-trick on his 100th appearance for the club.
Meanwhile Bray Wanderers secured an impressive 4-0 win away at bottom side Athlone Town to climb up to third and above Treaty United in the table, following their 1-0 loss at home by Finn Harps, who grabbed the winner when Gradi Lomboto struck 15 minute's from time.
DUNDALK: E Minogue; L Mulligan (S McHale 71), M Animasahun, V Leonard, S McHale, S Keogh; A Dervin, K Ward (A Paraschiv 60); E Kenny, D Ebbe (H Groome; 59), D Horgan; G Arubi.
COBH RAMBLERS: T Martin; J Häkkinen, C Coleman, Shane A Griffin, L Le Bervet (J O'Donovan 86; N O'Keeffe (J Abbott 71), Shane Griffin; D Holland (S Bellis 65), B Coffey, M Whelan; C Murphy (B Frahill 86).
Referee: Oliver Moran (Dublin).
Attendance: 1,487.