Cobh Ramblers opening season in the Airtricity League u19 Elite Division has come to an end. Having won the Southern Division in the 2011/12 season Cobh Ramblers u19s were promoted to the Elite Division this year. The Rams finished in 10th place which does not justify their performances this season. They were only 9 points behind 3rd place and were a comfortable 12 points above the relegation zone. It is a testament to the quality of the league that most of the sides finished so close together. Each week provided shock results and you never knew what to expect.
Cobh had a magnificent start to the season back in Autumn. Victories against St. Pat’s, Finn Harps and Bray left them in a commanding position at the top of the league. Then they underwent a drop in form. Losses to Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne and Cork City proved costly. In a very entertaining game, Cork City defeated Cobh in the Enda McGuill Cup. The crowd at the local derby showed how much this fixture means to the people of Cork. The Leesiders were too strong for Cobh and left St. Colman’s Park with a 4-2 win. After Christmas, Ramblers’ form improved slightly with a win away to Shamrock Rovers the pick of the results. Unfortunately a 3 point deduction due to fielding an ineligible player meant the club dropped further down the table.
Top goal scorer Kynan Rocks has scored crucial goals this season. Young winger, Keith O’Flynn has provided numerous assists, with his pace and skill too much for defenders. A solid back four marshalled by Breandán Frahill and Seán O’Mahony and superb goalkeeper Shane Hallahan have been key to Ramblers’ success this season. The club also have a “celebrity” in their ranks with full back Eoin O’Donovan recently appearing on the Irish version of “Football’s Next Star”.
Overall the club can be happy with their debut in the Elite Division. Too many draws was the main disappointment but staying clear of the drop was their main aim which they achieved. Hopefully the Rams will improve next season and establish themselves as an Elite Division Club. A large amount of the team will be overage next year so expect a lot of new faces in the squad. The senior squad being re-established though will give all these players a great chance to play League of Ireland football. The u19 squad provided an outlet for the people of Cobh to continue watching a high level of football at St.Colman’s Park when the Senior Team were not around. It offers a chance to see the best young players in the country right on your doorstep. It has been a wonderful addition to Irish football and hopefully will go from strength to strength in the coming years.
It is a great achievement for Cobh football that a team from this small town can compete with the heavyweights of Irish football. The players have proved themselves against some of the toughest teams in the country. Cobh has produced many great players down through the years and this shows no sign of stopping with this team.
