Cobh Ramblers u19s get their season underway this Sunday at 3pm against UCD at home. For the upcoming 2014/15 season, the FAI have introduced a new format to the Under 19 SSE Airtricity National League. The teams across the country are now split into two sections – Northern and Southern Divisions.
Cobh will compete in the Elite Southern Division as follows: Athlone Town, Bray Wanderers, Cobh Ramblers, current Elite Division holders Cork City, Limerick FC, Mervue United, Salthill Devon, Shamrock Rovers, UCD, Waterford United and Wexford Youths.
The top four clubs will all progress to the quarter-finals of the National competition where they will face the top four clubs from the Elite Northern Division.
Having won the Enda McGuill Cup in a memorable final at St Colman’s Park against Drogheda, it will be a tough task to improve on last season but new manager Stephen Birmingham has put together an excellent squad this year. The team have impressed in pre-season with wins over Midleton, Crosshaven and Kinsale. They rounded up their friendlies with a 1-0 win over Shelbourne u19s.
Some of last season’s Cup winning squad are still eligible to play this year. Ryan Goldsmith, Chris McCarthy, Danny Barry and David O’Gorman will all be hoping to improve on their showing last year. New signings have come in from various clubs across the county and will be looking to shine in their first season at this level. Stephen Christopher, goalkeeper Eoghan Daly, Kyle McNamara and Adam O’Sullivan are just a few who have done well in pre-season and are worth keeping an eye on.
One player who is heading into his second year at u19 level is local midfielder George Gill. George has also pushed his way into contention in Martin Cambridge’s senior squad and scored his first senior goal against Galway FC earlier in the year. The former Springfield Ramblers player is looking forward to the new season, “From being here last year, I know what the league is about and looking at our team this year, I think we have a great chance of doing well just like last year! I’m really looking forward to getting started and hopefully we’ll have a good season!”
New arrival Stephen Christopher signed from Cork club College Corinthians. He had this to say about Ramblers first game against UCD, “Hopefully we can start the season on Sunday with a win against UCD and get 3 points on the board. We’re all looking forward to it.”
The Southern Division will be tough for the Rams this year and making the top four will be no easy task. Cork City and Shamrock Rovers will be very strong as always while Waterford United, Athlone and UCD will also be teams to watch out for.
Following their season opener with UCD, Ramblers face Mervue, Cork City, Athlone and Bray Wanderers in their first games. A good start to the campaign as vital and this side have the potential to do very well again this year. The u19 season is back!
The 2014-15 Cobh Ramblers U19 squad is as follows.
Eoghan Daly, Patrick Cronin, Adam O’Sullivan, Charlie Fleming, Dylan Walsh, Dave O’Connor, Kevin McNally, Dion Hennessey, Tim Foley, Brendan Kenny, Evan Shine, David King, Shane
Daly-Butz, Rory Cotter, Kyle McNamara, Stephen Christopher, Ryan Goldsmith, Chris McCarthy, Daniel Barry, Dave O’Gorman, George Gill.
