Cobh Ramblers 4-1 Galway United

Cash strapped Cobh Ramblers produced an outstanding second half performance to end a seven match losing home sequence as they defeated Galway and moved above them at the foot of the table.

The St Coleman's Park fans saw Ray Lally smash home a 30 yard rocket just after half time, Ross Gaynor streched Cobh's lead seven minutes later, before Iarlaith Davoren had Galway back in the game after 62 minutes.

But further strikes from midfielder John Kearney and another 25 yard belter from Daryl Kavanagh gave Stephen Henderson’s men a big win in their relegation fight.

It has been a difficult week for the Cobh Ramblers club who like their near neighbours Cork City, are in a dreadful financial situation and find themselves with debts of over €400,000, with the supporters having held a crucial meeting on Tuesday night where a new finance committee was formed to try and clear some of the immediate debts, such as €88,000 owed to the Inland revenue.

Following last week's 2-2 draw in Ballybofey, Ramblers were without the suspended defender Shane Guthrie and Colin O'Brien, although the experienced midfielder would have missed this crucial game with a groin injury.

Galway were without the suspended John Lester, so skipper John Fitzgerald played alongside player/manager Jeff Kenna at the centre of the defence.

With both UCD and Finn Harps - two of the bottom four battling against relegation - losing on Friday night, this was an ideal opportunity for these two sides to make up ground in their fight for survival.

In a first half of few chances the teams came close to scoring just before the break when first Galway's Jason Molloy fired just over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area and right on the break the home side’s Kevin Murray headed a Ray Lally corner kick inches wide.

But after a lifeless first half we had an action packed second period, and five minutes into the second half left sided midfielder Ray Lally picked up the ball, and with nothing seemingly on thumped a 30 yard shot high to the roof of Gary Rogers net to put Cobh in front.

Galway should have equalised three minutes later when a Jeff Kenna far post header set up Molloy who amazingly failed to steer the ball home from a couple of yards out.

Ramblers stretched their lead on 57 minutes when full back John Meade played a great through ball for Ross Gaynor who fired a low shot past Rogers from 10 yards to put the home side 2-0 in front.

The visitors were back in the match just after the hour mark when a cross shot from Mark McCullogh was touched to the net by Iarlaith Davoren, but within 60 seconds Cobh had restored their two goal lead.

Davin O'Neill struck a fine shot which was parried by goalkeeper Rogers into the path of midfielder John Kearney, who gleefully shot to the net from close range.

Stephen Henderson's side scored another cracker to complete the scoring when Daryl Kavanagh sent a 25 yard screamer high to the back of the Galway net to make it 4-1.

It was Cobh's best win of the season, has ended that dreadful home run, and takes the club off the foot of the table.

Cobh Ramblers: McCarthy; Carey, Cummins, Murray, J Meaade; O'Neill, O'Halloran, J Kearney, Lally; Gaynor, Kavanagh.
Subs; A Kearney for Gaynor 85 mins, Mulconry for Lally 70 , O'Shea for O'Neill 79, Mulcahy.

Galway United: Rogers; Conneely, Kenna, Fitzgerald, McCulloch; J O'Shea, Nurphy, Russell, Davoren; Molloy, Gorgensen.
Subs; Glynn for Molly 60, Foley, Sinnott, Faherty, Rouse.

Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin).