There’s a new man at the helm for Cobh Ramblers U19s this year but it’s a familiar face in the club’s former U17 manager Ethan McCarthy. After a spell coaching in the US the former Carrigaline United coach is back at St Colman’s Park and rearing to go in his second term with Cobh. Last year’s u19 head coach Dec Coleman has moved on to the backroom staff of Cobh’s senior side.
This year’s Young Rams will do well to better their performances last season when they won the Southern Division and reached the final four of the Enda McGuill Cup. One negative note was getting knocked out by St Pat’s in the first round of the league knockout stages and that’s clearly an area they will look to improve on.
Consistency is a huge help at this level and only two of last year’s squad are overage this year, Scott McCarthy, and midfielder David Hurley who is now a pivotal member of Ramblers’ senior set-up. The remainder of the squad were all born in 1999 or later and there is a familiar look to this season’s squad. The likes of Conor Hogan, Matthew Lamb and Ryan O’Regan will all look to push on after a strong debut year with the u19s. Promotion from within is a common feature amongst Ramblers sides and no less than seven members of Damien Rowe’s u17 side last year have been included in the u19 squad for 2018. Goalkeeper Arthur Nguefang, defenders Kyle Murphy and Adam Crowley and midfielders Cameron Harlson and Connor O’Leary all make the step up, as do strikers Jaze Kabia and Beineon O’Brien Whitmarsh who are also in Stephen Henderson’s senior squad.
There are a few new faces who have arrived with Munster Senior League experience. Defender Greg Barrett has been added from Blarney United while the impressive Nathan Broderick joins from Rockmount. Sean O’Driscoll has signed from Leeside with well-regarded striker Eoin Murphy arriving from St Mary’s alongside Craig McSweeney.
Goalkeeper Conor Hogan was a key member of last year’s u19 squad having joined from neighbours Cork City at the beginning of 2017. The Blarney native has enjoyed getting back into the swing of things in recent weeks and is looking forward to the new campaign. “Pre-season has gone very well so far. We came back early and hopefully that will count over the season. A lot of last year’s squad is still here but we’ve added in some high-quality players. We’re bonding well and getting to know each-other.”
The first year student in UCC has already enjoyed a stellar career at League of Ireland underage level having spent two years at Cork City prior to joining Cobh in 2017, “This is my fourth season playing League of Ireland and my last at u19 level so hopefully I can end it with a trophy. We were disappointed with how last season finished off and will look to push on from that. I’m injured at the moment but can’t wait to get back playing and helping us to do well this year.”
One of the new faces in the door at St Colman’s Park is midfielder Sean O’Driscoll who signed from Leeside’s senior side. He’s enjoying his time with Ramblers so far and adjusting well to the step-up, “From the minute I arrived the coaches and the lads on the team have welcomed me in. It was a bit difficult getting used to new surroundings and a different standard of football but slowly I’ve gotten used to the style and the tempo at this level. Pre-season has gone well and we’ve worked hard as a team putting in the hours. We’re getting used to each-other as players and improving with every game. Hopefully we can bring that form into the first game of the season against Wexford. It’s a game that we’re all really looking forward to.”
The squad have undergone a healthy pre-season over the past few weeks and open their league campaign away to Wexford the weekend of March 25th. Their first home game is against Cabinteely the following week before meetings with Limerick, UCD and the famous derby with Cork City. It’s all set up to be another thrilling season for the club’s u19s against the nation’s top sides and don’t be surprised to see them competing at the top end once again in 2018.

Squad List

GK
Conor Hogan

Arthur Nguefang

DF
Kajus Vitkevicus
Adam Crowley
Gordon Walker
Greg Barrett – Blarney United
Stephen O Connor
Ryan O’Regan
Kyle Murphy

MF
Sean O Driscoll – Leeside
Peter Callanan
Matthew Lamb
Connor O’Leary
Nathan Broderick – Rockmount
Darragh Lowth
Cameron Harlson
Jaze Kabia
Craig McSweeney – St Mary’s

FW
Stephen O’Leary
Eoin Murphy – St Mary’s
Beineon O’Brien

By Thomas Stafford