Cobh Ramblers manager Stephen Henderson was left to rue a poor first half performance as he saw his side fall to a 2-1 home defeat to Galway United on Saturday evening. In a game of two halves, Ramblers conceded twice in the space of two first half
Cobh Ramblers manager Stephen Henderson was left to rue a poor first half performance as he saw his side fall to a 2-1 home defeat to Galway United on Saturday evening.
In a game of two halves, Ramblers conceded twice in the space of two first half minutes when Conor Barry and Eoin McCormack found the net for the visitors. The second half saw a resurgent Ramblers launch a fight back when former Galway player Stephen Kenny found the net with ten minutes left to play.
The Tribesmen had to survive some nervy moments to secure the three points after a penalty appeal was turned down by the referee after Kabia tumbled in the box and Ramblers defender James McSweeney missed a late header that went inches over. Manager Henderson feels that the defeat has ended his team’s play-off hopes.
“I felt we did enough in the second half to get a point. In the first half we didn’t do anything to earn something. We asked the lads to start the game well tonight and be really aggressive. That is how we intended to start but for some reason it didn’t happen.
"I don’t think we won a 50/50, I don’t think we won a header and I don’t think we won a second ball. In terms of this season that is the worst we have played. Same thing happened in Galway earlier in the season. We never showed up in the first half, came in 3-0 down and came out second half looking like a proper team. It has happened to us a few times this season.
“Second half we were much better. All of a sudden, we are pressing people, winning headers, passing the ball and winning tackles. Chris Hull came on and I thought he was brilliant. He gave us a whole new dimension and set the tone for the half. I think that inspired people on but I said to the lads after they need to inspire themselves.”
“We’ve seven games left. I think the play-offs are gone so now it is about us getting ourselves ready for next year and making sure performances like that first half don’t happen again.”
Henderson’s focus remains on developing his young squad for the remaining seven games of the season and the club’s friendly match against Preston North End at Turner’s Cross next Tuesday evening.
“We are constantly looking at our system because our players are so young. Kabia is only 17, McSweeney is 18 and Hurley and Fernandes are only 19 years old. It is tough on these guys and we have to look after them.
"We are treating these kids like men so we need to find a way that suits them all. We are constantly looking for a way for them to do their best and they showed it in the second half tonight. It is something we will consider for next week.”
“We are going to go out and enjoy the last seven games and by that, I mean we are going to be as aggressive as we can and win every game. We need to lose that inferiority complex we have when we play teams above us because it takes us half an hour to realise that we are as good as them.”
“We have the friendly with Preston next week to look forward to. They are a proper Championship team who knock the ball around well. We know we’ll be doing a lot of running on Tuesday night but it will be a great experience for our lads. It will be a great occasion. This is a fundraiser for us. Hopefully people will come out and support the club.
"With two months of the season left, a game like this could generate enough to get us over the line and then we can regroup for next season. We are very grateful to Preston for coming over and we’ll do our best to go out and give them a proper game.”
