Match Report - Cobh Ramblers 2 Bray Wanderers 1 May 2 2025

 

Bray’s record breaking winning run in the SSE Airtricity First Division came to an end as Cobh grabbed a dramatic injury time winner. 

With Wanderers travelling to St. Colman’s Park on Friday on the back of seven straight League victories, something had to give as Ramblers went into the tie on the back on three wins in a row. 

Max Murphy’s stoppage time penalty against the Cork club back in March at the Carlisle Grounds had started the run of 21 points for the Wicklow side. 

Despite taking the lead through Jamie Duggan’s first senior goal, the visitors were pegged back to 1-1 by the interval. 

And despite having the better chances after the turnaround, it was the home team who snatched all three points in the 94th minute. 

From the team who’d beaten Kerry 4-2 at the Carlisle Grounds last week, the Seagulls made two changes. 

In came both Cian Curtis and Rhys Knight. On the bench, Jamie Ryan joined the substitutes. 

Bray hit the front inside the third minute. 

Home goalkeeper Timothy Martin was penalised for handball on the right endline of the box. 

Max Murphy clipped in the free-kick were Duggan rose highest to power in a thunderous header. 

But the Munster outfit levelled in the 21st minute. 

Harvey Warren was disposed just outside the box. David Bosnjak slipped a pass for the sliding Cian Murphy to angle a low effort in from just inside the penalty area. 

The hosts went close again in the 37th minute. 

Bosnjak crossed from the left. The ball to ex-Wanderer Shane Griffin. But his 20-yard shot flashed wide. 

However, the Green and White’s had the better of the second period exchanges. 

In the 56th minute. Cian Doyle hooked forward from the centre circle after an away corner had been cleared. Billy O’Neill challenged, no foul was awarded. He turned to strike just wide from 25-yards. 

Yet, five minutes later, somehow – the U17 Republic of Ireland International didn’t feature on the . 

Conor Knight got free off the left byline to hang up a cross. O’Neill rattled the crossbar with a great header. 

The rebound fell to Rhys Knight. His touch set-up to O’Neill whose half volley from ten-yards was somehow blocked on the line by Martin and a covering defender. 

Ramblers responded in the 66th minute. 

Barry Coffey threaded a pass for Cian Murphy to chase. Just inside the box, he got there ahead of Jimmy Corcoran. But the poke towards goal went high and well over the bar. 

Then in the 69th minute, a right wing Cobh corner was flicked on. In a crowded six-yard area, Coffey headed over the bar. 

But it was Wanderers who finished strongly. 

Sub Calum Costello’s low 79th minute driven cross evaded Martin’s grasp, before being hacked clear near the goal-line. 

The home side broke in a counter-attack. Cian Bargary drilled wide from the edge of the ‘D. 

Bray went close again in the final minute of normal time. 

Max Murphy’s corner was diverted goal-wards by home sub Jonas Häkkinen’s slice. However, Coffey headed off the line and over the bar. 

With Wanderers having a 94th minute corner, Costello tried to pick out corner taker Max Murphy in the home half after his delivery had been cleared. 

Coffey intercepted. He then released Bargary to skip past the covering Doyle to blast to the roof of the net. 

 

Cobh Ramblers: Timothy Martin; Nolan Evers (Jonas Häkkinen 68), Shane Griffin, Cian Coleman, Luka Le Bervet; Niall O'Keeffe, Shane Griffin, Cian Bargary, Barry Coffey, David Bosnjak (Samuel Bellis 61); Cian Murphy. 

 

Subs not used: John O'Donovan, Brendan Frahill, James O'Leary, Dale Holland, Jason Abbott, George Nunn, Kian Lane. 

 

Booked: Martin 2, Bargary 16, O’Keeffe 49, Bellis 90, Coffey 90 + 1. 

 

Bray Wanderers: Jimmy Corcoran; Jamie Duggan, Kilian Cantwell, Harvey Warren, Max Murphy; Rhys Bartley, Cian Doyle; Billy O'Neill; Rhys Knight (Guillermo Almirall 63), Conor Knight (Calum Costello 63); Cian Curtis (Thomas Considine 81). 

 

Subs not used: Jordan Tallon., Alain Kizenga, Jamie Ryan, Benjamin Fagbemi, Stephen McGuinness. 

 

Booked: Cantwell 16, Doyle 35, Curtis 81. 

 

Referee: Oliver Moran (Dublin). 

 

Pictures: Colm McDonagh (Cobh Sports).