- Cork City FC are unbeaten in their last 5 games (W3, D2).
- Cork City FC have won 13 and lost just two of their 15 home matches in the First Division 2026.
- The Rams have conceded 26 goals in 14 away fixtures in the First Division 2026.
The Rebel Army are running away with it
Cork City FC are the 1st placed side in the First Division 2026 with 68 points from 30 games and Cobh Ramblers are the fifth-placed side with 42 points from 30 matches. The hosts are the clear favourites at 17/50 to beat Cobh, who are priced at 29/4, but we think the best bet here is to take over 2.5 goals at 1/2.
City have won three on the spin and have shown no signs of slowing down in their quest to go straight back up into the Premier Division at the first attempt. They've beaten a solid Wexford FC side by two goals to nil at home and drew away from home last time out, proving that they are still difficult to break down.
Shane Keegan has done a fine job at Cobh since taking over in 2022, and his compact side always put up a fight and have been in mixed form of late (W2, D2, L1). The Rams have drawn their last two games 2-2 and 1-1 respectively, the former against Longford Town and the latter against UCD, in both games at home.
Hosts have a derby day edge
In the last 5 head-to-heads between these sides at the home of Cork, the hosts are averaging 2.0 goals per game and Cobh are averaging 1.0 as the visitors. City have the edge in terms of form and at home, where they've been particularly lethal in the First Division 2026.
Gerard Nash has got his players playing with control and momentum and the Rebel Army are really making a mark in this division. Their high-tempo, possession-based game backed up with a strong pressing game should ask a lot of questions of Cobh's compact, narrow shape.
Cork have scored 38 goals in 15 home games in the First Division 2026 and that firepower should be too much for Cobh. Sean Maguire has bagged four in his last five appearances as the club have scored 11 during that same spell and we're going for a Cork win and over 2.5 goals on Friday.
