Coughlan is four goal hero
PAUL COUGHLAN stole the limelight at St Colman’s Park yesterday when he bagged four goals to pilot Cobh Ramblers to a deserved win over Monaghan United.
Coughlan was on target twice in each half as Cobh picked up three more priceless points. In a game that saw 10 goals and plenty of attacking football, both sides took the lead on occasions and were level three times over the course of the 90 minutes.
Coughlan’s first arrived on 10 minutes when he headed home a Donal Golden cross past a helpless Eddie Van Boxtel in the Monaghan goal to give the home side a well deserved lead. Cobh grew in strength following Coughlan’s opener and 16 minutes later, centre back Willie Byrne doubled their lead with a tremendous right footed drive that flew past Van Boxtel.
To their credit, Monaghan battled back valiantly and pulled one back through Andy Myler on 29 minutes.  Three minutes later Monaghan were back on level terms when Paul Smith pounced on a Colin Nataro pass to steer the ball past John Donegan in the Cobh goal.
Cobh’s bad run of luck to date looked set to continue when Monaghan took the lead in dramatic fashion a minute later when Carl Wilson converted a penalty after a hand ball by one of the Cobh defenders.
In their time of need Paul Coughlan, however, came up trumps when he equalised immediately before the break.
Cobh again took the lead on the resumption when Donal Golden headed home a Liam O’Connor cross. Monaghan were not to be outdone, however, and Roy Fox had the sides level once again minutes later when he finished off a Colin Nataro cross. Coughlan and Cobh had the last laugh, though, when the striker struck two more goals to see off the Monaghan challenge and secure the three points.

©The Examiner 20/12/99