Cobh Ramblers 0 Salthill Devon 1:SALTHILL DEVON took a giant step towards securing their First Division status for next season at St Colman's Park last night, thanks to a 35th-minute goal from Mikey Gilmore.

Daryl Horgan’s cross from the right found Gilmore unmarked, and he drilled the ball home with a left-footed volley.

Salthill will now take that one-goal advantage into Saturday evening’s second leg at their Galway base.

COBH RAMBLERS:Deasy; Hastings, Collins, Meade, Nolan; Donnachie, Downing (Bruton, 64), O'Shea, S Spillane (Stack, 67); Murphy, Geasley (J Spillane, 81).

SALTHILL DEVON: Forde; C Horgan, Geraghty, Whelan, OLeidhinn; D Horgan, Quirke (Straut, 76), Porter, Gilmore; Collins (OReilly, 86), McBrien.

Referee:G Kelly (Cork).