Athlone Town continued their play-off push with an injury time goal from Kyle Robinson giving them a 2-1 victory over Cobh Ramblers at St Colman’s Park.
The visitors arrived in East Cork and took an early lead through Leonardo Gaxha, and Matthew McKevitt equalised for the home side midway through the first half.
Robinson decided the destination of the three points by guiding in an Alexander Byrne cross, at the start of ten additional minutes.
Dario Castelo’s team were looking for their fifth consecutive win in all competitions, and they were forced to rethink their whole operation when Cobh attacked from the whistle.
The Ramblers were clearly out to make a point after losing successive games to Wexford in the league and Kerry in the FAI Cup, and that started with a close range attempt from James O’Leary going straight into the hands of Lee Axworthy Duggan.
A succession of corners followed, and two of these were pushed out of play after McKevitt got a head to the ball. Athlone survived and took the lead with their first shot on target, a moment that saw Gaxha sidefoot in a pass from Brian Toore in the 19th minute.
The Ramblers pushed up after the restart and Jack Larkin tried to create something with O’Leary, and their interplay ended in a Dylan Hand clearance.This was one of a number of small openings created during a burst which ended with Cian Browne setting up McKevitt for a shot on the edge of the area that rolled passed the Athlone goalkeeper the 28th minute.
The first half ended with chances for Gaxha and Matthew Leal inside the area and these were blocked by a scrambling Cobh defence. Athlone tried to pick up where they left off at the break, but they were unable to get a clear sight of goal the Liam McMahon Stand over the nature of the Cobh defence.
The Ramblers were quick to close down and stop players like Robinson from linking up with Leal and Gaxha, and an attempt at breaking in the 57th minute saw a McKevitt cross go to waste.
It was all going according to plan, and it looked like Cobh were going to get a much-needed point, and then Robinson popped up at the back post and turned in a Byrne cross.The Ramblers tried to get an equaliser in added time, but they were unable to test Axworthy Duggan.
Cork City's charge towards the top flight continued, although they were made to work for a 1-0 win over Munster neighbours Kerry, with a second-half Charlie Lyons goal enough to secure all three points for the league leaders.
Brilliant game so far between Bray Wanderers and Wexford!
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) July 26, 2024
Here's how the hosts went ahead for the second time 👇#LOITV | #BRYWEX pic.twitter.com/rdAR3hqtzh
Bray Wanderers and Wexford played out an entertaining East Coast derby at the Carlisle Grounds, with the hosts eventually running out 3-1 winners.
An early Kieran Cruise goal for the Seagulls was soon cancelled out by Aaron Dobbs but a Kaylem Harnett own goal ensured the home side were ahead at the break, before a late Paul Murphy goal put the result beyond doubt.
At the Markets Field, a second-half Enda Curran penalty was enough to secure a 1-0 win for Treaty United over Finn Harps, a result which could help the Limerick side claw their way back into play-off contention.
Cobh Ramblers: Darragh Burke; Michael McCarthy (Michael McCarthy 86), Cian Browne, Breandán Frahill, Matthew McKevitt (Regix Madika 87), Jack Larkin, James O’Leary, Nolan Evers, Dale Holland, Luka Le Bervet, Jason Abbott.
Athlone Town: Lee Axworthy Duggan; German Fuentes Rodriguez, Dylan Hand, Aaron Connolly, Dean Ebbe, Jamar Campion-Hinds (Amardo Akeem-Oakley 73), KyleRobinson (Michael McHugh 90), Oisin Duffy (Alexander Byrne 73), Leonardo Gaxha, Brian Torre, Matthew Leal (Noal Van Geenen 61).Referee: Daniel Murphy
