Ramblers open the 2022 First Division season on Saturday night, travelling to recently relegated Longford Town.
With two months of pre-season now behind them, Darren Murphy takes his Rams side to the Midlands to face a Longford team now managed by former Bray manager Gary Cronin.
The pair last met during the shortened 2020 campaign, when Cobh did the double over the Leinster side, 1-0 away and 2-0 at home. In 2017 the pair also met in Longford on the opening night of the season, a game which Ramblers won 3-1 before finishing second in the First Division that year.
Plenty of new arrivals could be on show for the Rams on the night. Issa Kargbo, Luke Desmond and Dale Holland are among those who joined from Cork City, while Breandán Frahill and Beineón O’Brien Whitmarsh are back after spells away from the club. Youth players such as Michael McCarthy and David Eguaibor will be eager to feature having been among the recent batch of young Rams to sign senior contracts. The 2022 first team squad in full is available here.
One man who won’t be involved unfortunately is Darryl Walsh, having suffered an injury in the Munster Cuo victory at Bandon.
Manager spoke Darren Murphy ahead of the game as he looked ahead to the new campaign,
“We’ve prepared well. The lads are fit, they’re strong. There’s good competition in the squad and we’re looking forward to getting started. We’re all ambitious and want to succeed together. Longford played Premier football last year and their fans expect them to go straight back up. It’s a great challenge for us going up against a side looking at getting promoted. They like to play football and it won’t be easy. We’ve laid down the challenge to our lads and they’ll give it everything on the night.
Captain John Kavanagh also gave his thoughts ahead of the tie,
“We’ve built a strong squad in the off-season. The next step is to get off to a good start. It’s important to have some good days early on. We finished last season very well and want to build on that. Pre-season went well, looking at how the new lads have fitted in and gelled into the squad. It’s up to us now to show that on Saturday. There’s no easy games and that’s the way it is in the league.”
Kick-off on Saturday night is at 19:30 in Bishopsgate. The game will be streamed live on LOITV here.
2022 Cobh Ramblers Season Tickets and Membership Options are now available to purchase online here ahead of next Friday’s opening home game with Wexford.
