Cobh Ramblers 1-3 Waterford FC
Keith Long and his free-scoring Waterford march on after seeing off Cobh Ramblers 3-1 at St Colman's Park, a game that was wrapped up inside the opening 10 minutes with goals from Roland Idowu and Ronan Coughlan.
Jack Doherty knocked in a penalty with just over an hour played and any hope of a comeback was undone by Shane Griffin’s late goal.
It follows last week’s emphatic 7-1 victory over Finn Harps at the RSC and marks the first time all season that Waterford have won back-to-back league games.
It also brings an end to Cobh’s three game unbeaten run.
All of this combined to create ideal conditions for a tense evening between two teams that are separated by just an hour’s drive.
Cobh wasted no time and a low shot from Tiernan O’Brien was stopped with a routine save from Paul Martin. Wilson Waweru also closed down the Waterford goalkeeper and picked off a kick out, but he knocked it out of touch as he tried to control.
Then Waterford won a free-kick and Shane Griffin sent it to Giles Philips, who set up Tunmise Sobowale. A pass was played that split the Cobh defence and Coughlan broke this down to Idowu, who rolled the ball in.
The Blues stole the ball from the restart and sent it to Griffin on the right wing. A low cross from the midfielder found Coughlan at the far post and he tapped in.
Cobh were bullish when things restarted and Jack Doherty immediately took a ball down and forced a low save from Martin.
The Waterford goalkeeper spilled and the follow-up from Doherty hit the crossbar. It was a frustrating moment for the sizable home support, and one they had to endure all over again when James O’Leary hit the upright from the edge of the area.
Waweru thought he did enough to pull one back when he connected with a corner, but his header was taken off the line by Philips.
The second half opened up with Doherty going down by and referee Gavin Colfer pointed to the spot. Martin guessed right, but the kick had too much power and beat the goalkeeper.
The shot-stopper then reacted to stop an own goal after a cross deflected off Sobowale inside the area.
Waterford countered and Niall O’Keeffe set up Griffin to score into the Liam McMahon Stand from inside the box.
Cobh tried to pull one back late in the game, but Waterford stood their ground to make sure they got the three points in east Cork.
Cobh Ramblers: Lee Steacy; Cian Browne, Justin Eguailbor, Charlie Lyons, Wilson Waweru (Jake Hegarty 83), Pierce Philips, Jack Doherty, Charlie O’Brien (Luke Desmond 83), Dale Holland (Callum Stringer 83), Tiernan O’Brien (Issa Kargbo 74), James O’Leary (Conor Drinan 71).
Waterford: Paul Martin; Ryan Burke, Niall O’Keeffe, Shane Griffin, Barry Crow Baggley, Tunmise Sobowale, Ronan Coughlan (Wassim Aouachria 88), Roland Idowu (Dean Larkin 71), Giles Philips, Killian Cantwell, Dean McMenamy.
Referee: Gavin Colfer
Elsewhere Galway remain the front runners and they cruised toa 4-0 win away to Wexford FC.
David Hurley gave the Tribesmen the lead on the stroke of half time, before goals from Franely Lamboto, Darren Clarke and Vincent Russell Bordon sealed a comfortable win as they hold a nine-point lead over Bray Wanderers, where Cole Omorehiomwan claimed the only goal of the game as the Seagulls defeated mid-table Athlone Town 1-0.
Struggling Kerry claimed just a second point of the campaign in a 1-1 draw at home to Finn Harps.
Sean McGrath gave the hosts an interval lead before defender Ryan Flood secured a point.
Treaty United claimed a first win of the campaign with Dean George claiming the fifth goal of an absorbing 3-2 win over Longford Town.
The hosts took the lead through Lee Molloy, with Francis Campbell hitting back for Longford before the break.
Success Edogun nudged his team ahead again before Josh Giurgi appeared to have secured a share of the spoils with 10 minutes remaining, but George struck four minutes later for the win.
