First Team Contracts for Crowley, Ryan and O’Reilly

Cathal Crowley, Gavin Ryan and Chris O’Reilly have today signed first team contracts at the club for the 2021 League of Ireland season. The trio all featured heavily for our U19 side last year and have come through the club’s Academy structure in recent seasons.

Cathal Crowley

Cathal Crowley joined our U19 set-up in 2019 from Greenwood and quickly became a key member of their side. The centre back captained the team in 2020 and made his first team debut in October, in a 4-0 win at Wexford. The defender played schools football for Douglas Community School in recent years, while also representing UCC in third-level football.

Cathal captaining our U19 side last season. Photo Steve Alfred.

He had this to say earlier today, “I’m over the moon to be re-signing with the first team. I was with the U19s last season but towards the end of the year I got a good introduction to senior football and got to know the lads. The academy was a great learning curve and I loved my time there with Ivan Bevan, the coaches and all the players.

Stuart and the management team have put together a very strong squad this year and we want to go one better than last season and secure a play-off spot. Pre-season has been going well and there is a good buzz in training. We are all rearing to get the games started!”

Gavin Ryan

Gavin Ryan in action. Photo: Steve Alfred.

Goalkeeper Gavin Ryan enters his second full season within the first team setup. The young netminder first joined the club’s U15 side in 2018 and rapidly rose through the underage ranks, featuring heavily for the U19s in 2020 and also acting as back-up for first team ‘keeper Sean Barron. The former College Corinthians man appeared in numerous pre-season and mid-season friendlies and is still eligible for U19 level in 2021. He is the first Ramblers player to graduate from the new national U15 set-up right to senior level.

Gavin had this to say about the news, “I’m very please to be re-signing with Ramblers this season. The squad is really coming together and looking very strong. I believe that the season is ours for the taking and we can’t wait to get going.”

Chris O’Reilly

Chris O’Reilly against Kerry last year. Photo: Steve Alfred.

Exciting attacker Chris O’Reilly made an impressive eight senior appearances in 2020 and will be eager to add to that in the new season. The winger joined our U17 side in 2018 from Ringmahon Rangers, and spent three seasons in our Academy Set-up. His first team debut came in September’s 1-0 victory at Drogheda United.

He also gave his thoughts earlier today, “I’m delighted to have signed back. We have a strong squad and all the lads are buzzing to get going. I really think that this could be the year to get the club back to where it belongs in the Premier Division.”

With our first team squad coming together, keep an eye on all things Ramblers for further news in the near future!

In the meantime, why not pick up some Ramblers merchandise at cobhramblersshop.com

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Cobh Ramblers FC

Cobh Ramblers Football Club is an Irish football club. The club, founded in 1922 and elected to the League of Ireland in 1985, hails from Cobh, County Cork and play their home matches at St. Colman's Park. The club's colours are claret and blue.