Cobh keep promotion hopes alive
COBH RAMBLERS made the best of a few chances that came their way and up ended high flying Kilkenny City in this tough encounter at Muddy Buckley Park yesterday.
In the end, a 56 minute goal from Willie Bruton gave Cobh a victory which reignites their promotion hopes. The defeat ends Kilkenny’s seven match unbeaten run, although the Cats were without five first teamers.
Kilkenny missed a great opportunity to open the scoring early in the first half which threw up few chances. In the 16th minute, Paul Scully was down in the box but Davy Walsh blasted the penalty over the bar. Earlier, Cobh keeper John Donegan did brilliantly when diving full length to turn an 18 yard drive by Mark Mearns around the post.
Cobh were much more enterprising and tight at the back in the second half, and they had Kilkenny stretched for long periods. Early on, Paul Scully had a headed effort well saved by Donegan, and a follow up shot by Davy Walsh was also kept out. However, Cobh went close to scoring in the 54th minute when the left footed effort by Paul Coughlan skimmed an upright. In the 56th minute, Cobh delivered the decisive stroke. A corner on the left by Liam O’Connor found Willie Bruton unmarked on the back post, and he bundled the ball home from close range.
In the 64th minute, Bruton nearly goaled again, and it took a great save from ‘keeper Robbie Forde to keep the visitors at bay. The nearest Kilkenny came to an equaliser was in the 84th minute when a snapshot by Howie King just missed the target.

© The Examiner 27.12.99