It’s another weekend of First Division action coming up, as Cabinteely make the trip to Cobh on Saturday night. After a positive run of results, the past two weeks haven’t gone to plan for Ramblers with away defeats to Bray and Galway. This week’s home tie gives a chance to get back on track in St Colman’s Park.
These sides last met in May in Stradbrook, when the Dubliners secured a late 1-0 win thanks to a Mitchell Byrne goal.
Ramblers haven’t beaten the Dublin side since a 1-0 victory back in May 2018. ‘Cabo’ have won the last three meetings between the sides, but come into the game on the back of a 1-0 loss against Athlone Town.
The sides have met 21 times in total since Cabinteely joined the League of Ireland in 2015. Both teams have 9 wins from those ties, with three draws.
From a squad perspective, Pierce Phillips is ruled out this week due to concussion and is undergoing return to play protocols. Long term absentees Regix Madika and John Kavanagh have returned to light training. Darryl Walsh, Cian Murphy, Conor Drinan and David O’Leary are slight doubts and will be monitored prior to kick-off.
Manager Stuart Ashton spoke to the assembled press this week ahead of Saturday’s game,
“The games are running out as we head into the second half of the season. We need to get back on track full stop, if we are to have any realistic hopes of getting into the top five spots. We’ve been too inconsistent this season and that’s been our downfall. We look to win every game but the ones now against teams in and around us are important to claw back that gap.“
They’re a good side, they’re competitive, organised. We played them back in May and for all the plaudits we got from how we played, we came away with nothing. We have to be a bit more ruthless at both ends and if we do that we have a real chance. Everyone is beating one-another and a couple of results puts you right back in the mix.“
Defender Charlie Lyons also gave his thoughts ahead of the tie,
“We’re conceding goals at key points in games. It’s a kick in the teeth for us. It’s silly mistakes from ourselves that’s doing the damage. Personally I feel Cabinteely is a must win game, we’re running out of games and it’s time to put things right.
As a group we think we can still do it, we just need to stick together and perform, otherwise we’ll run out of time.”
Stuart also spoke about this week’s FAI Cup First Round Draw, which has pitted Ramblers away to LSL side Liffey Wanderers.
“They’re a top Leinster Senior League outfit, they won the Intermediate Cup a few years back. They’ve a lot of top players in their squad, hopefully it’s a good cup tie and a good game. We’d love to have a great cup run. We have to get over this weekend first and then look ahead to the game with Liffey Wanderers.”
Kick-off on Saturday night against Cabinteely is at 19:00, with live coverage available on LOITV here
Our match sponsor is McCarthy Insurance Group
