Gilmore strike puts Salthill Devon in pole position

Date Published: 04-Nov-2010

COBH RAMBLERS 0

SALTHILL DEVON 1

JASON BYRNE AT

ST. COLAMN’S PARK

SALTHILL DEVON edged their noses in front in the first leg of their play-off against 'A' Championship side Cobh Ramblers as Mikey Gilmore's first half strike gave them the initiative in a forgettable game at St. Colman's Park.

Low temperatures, constant drizzle and a heavy pitch all proved to be pivotal factors in Devon not taking a bigger lead into tomorrow night’s (Saturday) second leg at Drom despite being in control for the majority of Tuesday evening’s battle on the south coast.

An early warning shot fired by Cobh striker Stephen Geasley was superbly saved by Ronan Forde indicating he may have been in for a busy night – but it proved not to be the case. Patiently going about their work and looking to get the job done, no goal chance of note had arrived for Devon until Gilmore struck to give Devon the precious lead ten minutes before the break.

Cobh had wasted a good opportunity to warm the hands of young stopper Ronan Forde when a free-kick on the right was whipped into the danger zone by Michael O'Shea only to be headed well over by Sean Spillane. Forde quickly dispatched the goal-kick and suddenly Daryl Horgan used his blistering pace to burst up the right wing.

His associate on the left wing, in the form of Gilmore, cleverly darted into the box and was there to meet Horgan's sweet cross with an even sweeter volley to blast into the bottom corner and settle Devon nerves.

Despite the age gap between him and his team-mates, Salthill's player/manager Mike Quirke orchestrated affairs in the middle; showed good composure on the ball and ensured his players followed suit.

Five minutes before half-time Victor Collins unleashed a fierce drive from the edge of the box that deflected of his team-mate Robbie Porter, and it could easily have crept into the bottom corber only for the sharp reflexes of Ramblers stopper Stephen Deasy.