PREVIEW: Drogheda United v Cobh Ramblers [01 Feb 2003|03:15pm] Fabio wants goals Drogheda United terrace hero Declan ‘Fabio’ O’Brien has warned Cobh Ramblers that he intends to fire his side into the play-off final at 02 Park today, Saturday February 1st. (Kick-off 5pm) The sides are deadlocked at 2-2 after the first leg at St. Colman’s Park but O’Brien is confident Drogheda can go one step closer to maintaining their Premier Division status in the return leg. “Our attitude must be right and we and we must be focussed. I’d certainly be looking to score a few goals to make it safe. They threw everything at us in the second half of the first game. We expected they would have a right go but we really should have won it “At least we didn’t get beaten which was vital. Cobh are a good spirited side, they get bodies forward but I would expect us to beat them at home,” admitted the Dubliner. However Drogheda will have to plan without Neill Bennet, Chris Todd and Stuart Taylor – who have all returned to Britain because of the international transfer deadline. Boss Harry McCue still has injury worries surrounding Brian Kelly (calf strain) and Dom Tierney (groin strain). However Tierney is likely to play and will be given every chance to prove his fitness while Shaun Gallagher could make his long awaited comeback from an ankle injury that has seen him play only 15 minutes since August. Meanwhile Cobh manager Dave Hill insists his side are ready for the journey to Drogheda. “The pressure is on them now. Hopefully we have no fear about going there. As long as we go out and compete and play as well as we have all season, I think we’ll have a chance.”

Play-off Final arrangements [01 Feb 2003|03:30pm] The draw has been made for the play-off final and the winners of the play-off between Harps and Galway will play at home first on Weds night, 5th Feb @7.45pm against the winners of the second semi-final between Drogheda and Ramblers.

RESULT: Drogheda United 2 Cobh Ramblers 0; Aggregate (4-2) [01 Feb 2003|11:57pm] Match Summary First half goals from Declan O'Brien and Shaun Gallagher edged Drogheda United another step closer to Premier Division survival in the promotion/relegation semi-final second leg play-off with a 2-0 victory over Cobh Ramblers at O2 Park on Saturday and now go forward to the big two-leg decider against Galway United this week. This semi-final tie was balanced on a knife edge following the first-leg 2-2 draw at St. Colman's Park last Wednesday and it was a tense night in front of a near capacity crowd at the County Louth venue. Drogheda fans were relieved when prolific Cobh striker Willie Bruton, scorer of two penalties last Wednesday, chipped past United 'keeper Gary Rogers but just the wrong side of the upright after five minutes. Then Cobh's Declan McGregor almost got ahead of Rogers after ten minutes, only for the giant 'keeper to get a vital touch on the ball to avert the danger. United quickly turned the screw after a nervous opening and they grabbed the lead on the half hour. Striker Andy Myler beat the offside trap wide on the right and pulled the ball back across goal where Declan O'Brien was waiting to gleefully rifle home. Harry McCue's men continued to pressurise and they were rewarded with a vital second goal seconds before the interval. Again Myler supplied the telling pass when playing a neat interchange with midfielder Shaun Gallagher who executed a clinical finish with a superb 14 yard strike past Cobh 'keeper Derek Slattery. O'Brien went close to his second on 56 minutes but just curled his shot inches over the bar from 20 yards. The closest Cobh came to narrowing the gap came on 73 minutes when player/manager Dave Hill swept a free-kick just wide of the upright. Scorers: Drogheda United: 24 min - O'Brien 44 min - Gallagher Cobh Ramblers: Line-ups Drogheda United: Rogers; Dunne, Lynch, Cronin, Gray; Gallagher, O'Connor, Tierney, Dempsey; Myler, O'Brien. Sub: Quinless for Gallagher (77 mins.). Cobh Ramblers: Slattery; Hastings, O'Donovan, Brosnan, White; Clifford, Hill, Yelverton, Coker; McGregor, Bruton. Sub: Kabia for Coker (73 mins.). Referee: Pat Whelan (Dublin).

navigation [ viewing | February 1st, 2003 ] [ go | previous day|next day ]