Cobh rout basement rivals

LEAGUE OF IRELAND, PREMIER DIVISION Cobh Ramblers 4 Galway United 1: A REAL relegation six-pointer went the way of Cobh Ramblers on Saturday evening as the financially-stricken southern side managed to rout their struggling rivals with four second-half goals.

Strikes from Ray Lally, Ross Gaynor John Kearney and Daryl Kavanagh ensured a vital win although Galway did pull it back to 2-1 courtesy of Iarflaith Davoren.

It was a highly entertaining second half but Cobh boss Stephen Henderson was more encouraged by the fact his outfit go above Galway at the foot of the eircom Premier Division.

Afterwards, he said: "We've been preaching all year for the lads to shoot and tonight they did just that, we got four goals from that philosophy. We were embarrassed at being in last place, we didn't want to feel ashamed anymore. On 10 occasions this season, we've been beaten 1-0."

The home side took the lead just two minutes into the second half, when former Cork City player Lally produced a stunning 30 yard shot that relieved the tension around St Colman's Park.

Gaynor made it two when sneaking in behind a static defensive line. Galway dragged themselves back into it on the hour-mark when a miscued Mark McCulloch shot ended up at the feet of Davoren, who deflected the ball to the back of the net.

But their optimism only lasted a minute, Kearney notching his side's third of the night after a goal-bound attempt from O'Neill's was saved by Rogers.

In the 82nd minute, Kavanagh rounded off a great evening for the Rams when his strike from outside the box caught the goalkeeper cold.

"There was little effort out there, no desire, it was just awful really," blasted losing assistant manager Ian Foster afterwards.

"We passed up on responsibility in the game against Bohs, we did the same here tonight. We're not out of sight yet, we're still in this league; that's the sole positive that we can take out of tonight."

COBH RAMBLERS: McCarthy; Carey, Cummins, Murray, Meade; O'Neill (O'Shea, 76), O'Halloran, Kearney, Lally (Mulconry, 67); Gaynor (Kearney, 82), Kavanagh.

GALWAY UNITED: Rogers; Conneely, Kenna, Fitzgerald, McCulloch; O'Shea, Murphy, Russell, Davoren; Molloy (D Glynn, 56), Jorgensen.

Referee: Paul Tuite(Dublin).