Cobh Ramblers 4, Galway United 1

It looks like next year might be a season of away trips to Jackman Park and Flancare Park, as Division One football beckons for Galway United, after crumbling to a three goal defeat at the hands of Cobh Ramblers.

BEATEN . . . Galway United keeper Gary Rogers who was beaten four times in their crucial relegation clash away to Cobh Ramblers at the weekend. Photo: Alan Gallagher

Relegation, for the first time this season, now looks a certainty, after total capitulation at the hands of United's nearest relegation rivals last Saturday evening.

There yet may be nine matches to complete, but with United firmly rooted to the bottom of the table, and a series of tough matches ahead, all does not bode well for the Terrylanders.

Second-half goals from Ray Lally, Ross Gaynor, John Kearney and Daryl Kavanagh, sandwiched an Iarflaith Davoren strike, but in truth the home side never looked pressurised.

After an opening-half lacking in any events of note, the home side cracked the opener five minutes after the re-start. Lally received possession from Alan Carey on the right and fired home a 30-yard left-foot pile-driver, which flew past Gary Rogers in the United goal.

Cobh doubled their advantage on the hour-mark and some abject defending was once again responsible. Graham Cummins, in possession on the half-way line bisected the space between centre-back and full-back and found Gaynor with ease. The striker had the easiest of tasks as he picked his spot and beat Rogers low at his near post.

United got themselves back in the match four minutes later, as Marc McCulloch's long-distance shot was first deflected off a Cobh leg and then off Davoren and into the back of James McCarthy's net. However, Cobh immediately restored their two-goal advantage after Rogers spilled an innocuous shot to the feet of John Kearney who tapped in for his side's third. A wonderful fourth goal, arrived five minutes from time, as Kavanagh spotted Rogers slightly off his line and lobbed the unfortunate keeper, condemning United to their worst away defeat of the season.

United must now hope to grab points from a difficult series of seven matches and hope for teams around them to slip up, before relegation rivals Finn Harps visit Terryland Park on the penultimate week of the season.

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

Galway United: Rogers; Conneely, Kenna, Fitzgerald, McCulloch; J O'Shea, Murphy, Russell, Davoren; Molloy (Glynn, 60), Jorgensen.

Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin).

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