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Date Time League Season
12 August 2022 7:45 pm LOI Men's First Division 2022

Match Report

Wexford battle back to draw away in Cobh

Luka Lovic's 84th-minute header helped Wexford rescue a share of the spoils as they twice came from a goal down in a frantic second-half to draw 2-2 with First Division strugglers Cobh Ramblers at Ferrycarrig Park.

They took one point - it should've been all three - but Ian Ryan's men could only blame themselves after missing multiple opportunities to go ahead early on. Conor Crowley was an effective midfield orchestrator, while Aaron Dobbs had a handful of chances before limping off injured at half-time.

Thomas Considine hit the post before the break after showing good pace to breach the visitors' backline, before Adam Wells created a great opportunity - Dobbs sliced over the crossbar.  

They were duly punished for squandering those earlier chances, as Conor Drinan applied the finishing touch to a quick counter-attack featuring McGrath and James O'Leary after Wexford relinquished possession in their half just three minutes after the restart.  

A 15-minute teamtalk, essentially ruined, just like that.

O'Leary almost doubled their lead on a solo run moments later but saw his effort trickle narrowly wide, before Ger Shortt produced an instant impact from the bench to help the hosts equalise.

He showed blistering speed beating Charlie Fleming to a loose ball down the flank, cut it back for an unmarked Harry Groome in the area and a sidefooted finish was enough to breach Paul Hunt.  

Less than two minutes later, Cobh were back in-front after profiting from another preventable mistake. Alex Moody was undone by McGrath's low drive, one trickling underneath him at point-blank range - rather typifying a frustrating evening for them.

After a frenzied sequence of events, the pace gradually slowed and both sides made changes as time ticked by. Wexford continued peppering the Cobh goal with crosses, long throw-ins and threatened intently before another inspired sub made his mark as they levelled the scoring late on.

An excellent first touch and subsequent delivery into the six-yard area by Dinny Corcoran was put on a plate for a leaping Luka Lovic, who pipped Fleming to the cross and simply couldn't miss with a downward header. Both sides probed for a last-gasp winner, but a draw was how it finished.

Treaty's 2-0 win away at league leaders Cork City reinforced the belief that although they did well enough to avoid a surprise defeat against second bottom here, Wexford cannot afford many more displays like this against weaker opposition if they are to justify their promotion play-off aspirations.

Wexford FC

13Alex Moody Goalkeeper
4Paul Cleary 20 Defender
5Joseph Manley Defender
17Adam Wells Defender
12Thomas Considine Defender
7Conor Crowley Midfielder 93'
8Conor Barry 22 Midfielder
17Luka Lovic Midfielder 84'
21Harry Groome 19 Midfielder 57'
11Aaron Dobbs 14 Forward
24Eoin Farrell Forward
16Len O’Sullivan Defender
25Shay O’Leary Goalkeeper
2Aidan Friel Defender
18Luke Scanlon Midfielder
14Dinny Corcoran 11 Forward
19Evan Farrell 21 Forward
20Jordon Tallon 4 Midfielder
22Ger Shortt 8 Forward
33Mitchell Byrne Defender

Cobh Ramblers

22Paul Hunt Goalkeeper
Harlain Mbayo Defender
2John Kavanagh Defender
3Charlie Fleming Defender
5Breandan Frahill Defender
6Jason Abbott Midfielder
10Jake Hegarty 9 Forward
11Conor Drinan Defender 48'
34James O’Leary 7 Defender
16Luke Desmond 8 Midfielder
14Seán McGrath Forward 59'
13Gavin Ryan Goalkeeper
17Justin Eguaibor Defender
19James McCarthy Defender
25Michael McCarthy Defender
18Nathan O’Connell Midfielder
7Danny O’Connell 34 Midfielder
8Pierce Phillips 16 Midfielder
9Beineon O’Brien Whitmarsh 10 Forward
  • I've been Mosope Ominiyi, thanks as always for joining me. Stay tuned for the full match report, check out the scores around-the-grounds tonight and until next time, goodnight!

  • 95'

    FT: Wexford 2-2 Cobh Ramblers - It's all over! Wexford rescued a point, at least, but this will feel like a defeat with the amount of chances they've fashioned over 90 minutes.

  • 94'

    Crowley is first into the referee's book for throwing a flailing arm near the centre-circle.... almost over now.

  • 93'

    Wells and Manley with last-ditch defending for the hosts, it's been that sort of finish... sweaty palms, no doubt.

  • 90'

    Five minutes of stoppage-time to be added on, end-to-end stuff here!

  • 87'

    Referee is getting all sorts of abuse from the hosts now after stopping play for what he thought was a head injury... it wasn't one, and Wexford were on the break.

  • 85'

    Wexford had been peppering the Cobh goal with crosses, long throw-ins and dangerous play... they've equalised again! An excellent touch and delivery into the six-yard area by Dinny Corcoran - another sub - and Luka Lovic simply couldn't miss with a downward header!

  • 84'

    GOAL! LOVIC HEADS IN TO MAKE IT 2-2!

  • 81'

    Confirmation of that change then, Nathan O'Connell replacing him.

  • 79'

    Looks like Cobh's James O'Leary cannot continue after receiving treatment for a knock on the far side.

  • 74'

    More changes, this time for Cobh in a double change.. Phillips and Whitmarsh on as they look to close the game out now..

  • 72'

    Evan Farrell on now for Wexford, with goalscorer Groome replaced as fresh legs are needed...

  • 61'

    After a sluggish start, this affair has just descended into chaotic action now, two goals in three minutes and Wexford find themselves with a slender deficit to overturn again.

  • 60'

    It's all happening now, another defensive breakdown sees Cobh charge forward and Seán McGrath slams low towards goal from close-range. The effort is straight at Moody but trickles underneath him, a poor one to concede.

  • 59'

    GOAL!!! ANOTHER MISTAKE AND COBH PULL BACK AHEAD!

  • 58'

    Moments after he\'s introduced, Shortt showcases his blistering speed and beats Charlie Fleming to a loose ball down the flank, before cutting the ball back for an unmarked Harry Groome in the area - who sidefoots it beyond Hunt to level.

  • 57'

    GOAL!!! GROOME EQUALISES, SHORTT WITH AN INSTANT IMPACT!

  • 56'

    Tallon and Shortt are on for Cleary and Barry as Wexford make a double sub now.

  • 55'

    Wexford do well to keep the ball in play, but Considine with a mishit as the ball is fizzed into him!

  • 51'

    Close! O'Leary drives forward on a surging run, untouched and almost doubles Cobh's lead, but the ball trickles inches past the far post... dangerous times for the hosts now.

  • 49'

    McGrath to O'Leary, he fed Drinan who fires low and hard into the far corner. 1-0 to the Ramblers after a self-inflicted possession giveaway by Wexford!

  • 48'

    GOAL, COBH ARE AHEAD!!!! Drinan decisive in the box after some slack deliberation by the hosts...

  • 46'

    Second-half underway now, confirmation that Dobbs is replaced by Dinny Corcoran at the break.

  • 45'

    HT: Wexford 0-0 Cobh Ramblers - Dobbs' big opportunity is virtually the final kick in a half where Wexford really should be, at minimum, two goals ahead. Instead it's goalless, and they cannot afford to keep squandering these openings if they're to win as expected tonight.

  • 47'

    CHANCE! Wells leaves O'Leary in his wake down the flank, whips a low cross to Dobbs at the near post... but his first-time effort is a heavy one and he reacts angrily as the ball flies into the trees behind the goal.

  • 45'

    Two minutes of stoppage-time to play at the end of this first-half, plus a little more for the Dobbs treatment.

  • 44'

    Dobbs is down receiving medical treatment and looks resigned to his evening being over, with a few subs warming up down the touchline now...

  • 37'

    Close! Frahill and Mbayo both almost connect with a curling free-kick down the other end, but another delivery goes begging.

  • 36'

    OFF THE POST! Cobh can breathe again after an overlapping Considine beats his marker for pace, strikes across goal and watches his effort cannon back off the far post into Hunt's grateful gloves.

  • 33'

    Dobbs' forceful pressing wins Ramblers a foul as he unceremoniously clatters into Mbayo with the defender shielding the ball, colliding with Hunt in his box.

  • 31'

    Big save! Hunt dives to thwart Dobbs from close-range, after a slick passing sequence.

  • 30'

    Seán McGrath has been doing some hard, intelligent running in transition for the visitors whenever the ball is loose, but Considine produces a good piece of defending to dispossess him.

  • 26'

    Heart-in-mouth moment for Alex Moody, as the ball flashes narrowly past his far post from a dangerous delivery.

  • 24'

    CHANCE! Crowley's pressing almost rewards him with an assist! He wins the ball high up the pitch, plays it across to an onrushing Barry inside the box, but the ball gets caught under his foot and he doesn't strike the ball with any venom... an easy easy catch for Hunt.

  • 22'

    Water break in progress now, and as promised, a score update from Cork vs. Treaty - Ben O'Riordan with a well-taken opener for the visitors there, a result Wexford will hope doesn't stay the same...

  • 20'

    Fantastic inch-perfect tackle down the far side in the penalty area by Harlaib Mbayo and it needed to be, as Conor Barry lurked dangerously with intent.

  • 18'

    A Wexford free-kick from distance, struck by Conor Crowley, floats harmlessly over the bar. Still 0-0, though the hosts have started brighter and are intensifying their attempts in the final third now.

  • 10'

    Groome and Considine combine with defence-splitting passes in quick succession, though goalkeeper Paul Hunt smothers the danger from the latter's cross in his six-yard box.

  • 7'

    Loose touches and multiple forward passes breaking down for both sides so far, my commentators talking about the toughness of the pitch... says it all so far.

  • 1'

    The players are out from the dressing room and after a short delay, the match is now underway!

  • There are seven other 7.45pm KO's across the country's top-two divisions elsewhere this evening, with Cork City vs. Treaty United one of intrigue for tonight's hosts. Assuming they prevail and Treaty drop points against the league leaders, Ian Ryan's side will leapfrog them into fifth place.

  • Three changes to the Wexford starting eleven: Aaron Dobbs, Thomas Considine and Harry Groome are all recalled to start tonight.

  • If you fancy a spot of pre-match reading, check out my preview in the article tab! Team news coming shortly.

  • My name's Mosope Ominiyi and I'll be taking you through the evening's play from a sunny Ferrycarrig Park, as two of the league's bottom four sides target a much-needed result here.

  • Good evening and welcome to tonight's live play-by-play commentary, as Wexford FC host Cobh Ramblers in the First Division. Kick-off is in just under an hour's time, 7.45pm, so stay tuned for updates.

Past Meetings

(Round 20)
0 - 3
LOI Men's First Division
St. Colman's Park

Cobh Ramblers v Wexford FC

(Round 10)
4 - 2
LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford FC v Cobh Ramblers

(Round 2)
2 - 3
LOI Men's First Division
St. Colman's Park

Cobh Ramblers v Wexford FC

(Series 22)
3 - 1
LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford FC v Cobh Ramblers

(Series 13)
3 - 2
LOI Men's First Division
St. Colman's Park

Cobh Ramblers v Wexford FC

(Series 4)
1 - 2
LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford FC v Cobh Ramblers

(Series 16)
0 - 4
LOI Men's First Division
Ferrycarrig Park

Wexford FC v Cobh Ramblers

(Series 7)
4 - 0
LOI Men's First Division
St. Colman's Park

Cobh Ramblers v Wexford FC

Ground

Ferrycarrig Park
Ferrycarrig Park, Kilpatrick, The Borough District of Wexford, County Wexford, Leinster, Y35 E296, Ireland

Mosope Ominiyi is a freelance sports journalist and sub-editor with over a decade's worth of experience, having graduated in 2020 with a BA Hons degree at Staffordshire University. His work has appeared in The Times, MailOnline and Sportskeeda, among other platforms.