Paul Coughlan maintained his remarkable goal-scoring spree to score twice and bring his tally to six from the last five games as Cobh Ramblers put themselves into the promotion picture in Division One of the National League with a 4-0 thrashing of depleted Kilkenny City at St Colman's Park yesterday.

With Monaghan ending second-placed Galway's 17-match unbeaten run with a 2-0 win at Gortakeegan, Cobh's fourth successive league win means they are a point behind them going into the last five games.

Coughlan opened the scoring on 54 minutes after Sean Francis and Tony Izzi had carved out the opening. Izzi then raced through onto goalkeeper Alan O'Shea's kick-out to outpace stand-in central-defender Tommy Gaynor and shoot past Josh Moran to make it 2-0 three minutes later.

Half-time substitute Francis got the third from the penalty spot on 66 minutes after Izzi was taken down by David Breen before Tommy Cregoe set up Coughlan for his second goal six minutes from time.

Galway had the worst possible start when falling behind to an own goal after only four minutes at Gortakeegan. Adrian Cregg's attempted clearance from a corner struck Fran Carter and rebounded into the net past Mark Cobey.

In a poor match ruined by the wet and windy conditions, Galway's attempted revival in the latter stages was ended seven minutes from time when Karl Wilson scored with a terrific 25-yard volley after Colm Notaro's cross deflected back to him off a defender.