Murphy spot on as Ramblers continue impressive start to season in Donegal
MATCH-WINNER: Cobh Ramblers Cian Murphy. Photograph Moya Nolan
Cian Murphy got his third goal of the season with a late disputed penalty as Cobh Ramblers’ impressive start to the new First Division season continued with a hard earned win over a battling Finn Harps at Finn Park, Ballybofey.
However, the winless Donegal side will feel that they deserved a point from the game, and trooped off bitterly disappointed.
Unbeaten Cobh remain second in the First Division table, and stay two points adrift of leaders Dundalk.
Harps went ahead on seven minutes when Patrick Ferry drilled the ball home from just inside the box after he latched onto a Gavin Hodgins cross.
But Cobh drew level on 28 minutes when, following a corner, Barry Coffey got the vital touch to force the ball home through a crowded goalmouth - his third goal in two games.
And the visitors then enjoyed a decent spell as they began to get on top in midfield but they were unable to create any clear-cut chances despite the best efforts of the lively Murphy who led the attack with great zest.
Cobh continued to hold the upper hand after the break but it was Harps’ most experienced defender Conor Tourish who nearly altered the scoreline again in the 58th minute with a spectacular overhead kick that dropped just wide of the target.
The game really began to open up in the final 20 minutes and Harps began to put Cobh under pressure with Ferry looking particularly menacing on the left flank.
But in the 81st minute Cobh took the lead in controversial circumstances as referee Marc Lynch ruled that Murphy was fouled as he surged into the penalty area. From the resulting spot-kick, Murphy duly obliged to make it 2-1.
Harps went close to an equaliser on three occasions after this, through substitute Gradi Lomboto, who fired just wide, while Timothy Martin was called upon to make a stoppage time save from substitute Max Johnston and Tourish then had a long range lob not far wide.
Azaiya; Hutchison, Tourish, Thompson; Place, McAteer (Dodd, 68 mins), McNamee (cpt), Jordan; Ferry (Johnston, 81 mins), McGuinness (Lomboto, 68 mins), Hodgins.
Martin; Hakkinen, Coleman, Shane Anthony Griffin (cpt (Frahill, 88 mins), O’Donovan (O’Brien, 81 mins); Shane Griffin (Abbott, 88 mins), Holland, Coffey, O’Keeffe (Bargary, 62 mins), Bellis (Bosnjak, 62 mins); Murphy.
M. Lynch (Galway).
