Young Ramblers squad look to continue defying expectations

With just one set of fixtures remaining to play in the SSE Airtricity League First Division, Cobh Ramblers have their destiny in their own hands.

Stephen Henderson’s side head up to face Athlone on Saturday night knowing a victory will guarantee their place in the promotion play-offs.

It has been quite a magnificent season for the St Colman’s Park outfit, who have surprised and impressed many around Ireland this season by putting themselves in a position to contend for a place in the Premier Division for next season.

With a young and talented crop of players, Henderson has put Ramblers in a great situation heading up to Athlone.

The Cobh boss has really got the best out of his squad, which includes former Liverpool youth player Shane O’Connor, instilling a strong work ethic and a style of football which gets the best out of the group.

O’Connor is one of the more experienced players in the group, despite the fact he is only 26 years old. Cobh’s squad is quite young, and that bodes well for them as they will look to grow and improve going forward.

Through the likes of Connor Ellis, Rob Lehane and Jonathan Creamer, Cobh have been able to pick up some of the most talented players in the Cork area, who have played in talented and successful under-19 sides at both Ramblers and Cork City.

All of Henderson’s players are living in the Cobh/Cork area and, other than O’Connor, Paul Hunt and Kevin Mulcahy, the vast majority have come through the underage sections of the two clubs, showcasing the good work being done to produce players is clearly evident down in Cobh.

Right from the very start of the season, Cobh had a genuine belief in their dressing room that they could push and challenge for a place in the playoffs, and it tells you everything you need to know about how Henderson feels about this current side, that he has described it as the most enjoyable seasons he has ever had in management.

The season has not just only gone well for Ramblers in the league, but also in the cup competitions. They won the Munster Senior Cup, their first success in the competition since 1982/83, while also going on a great run in the FAI Senior Cup.

That saw them progress to the Quarter Finals, where they were edged out only just in the end on a 3-2 scoreline by St Pats, after producing a fantastic second half display.

That particular game in Inchicore was a catalyst for the good league run Ramblers have been on recently and it was a game which provided them with the belief that they could put it up to a Premier Division side.

Heading into the game against Athlone, Ramblers have won their last four games on the trot, including what was their final home game of the regular season last weekend against Cabinteely.

That was played in front of a great crowd of over 1,000 people and it showed the appetite and place the football team has in the town of Cobh.

It also shows how much the time and hard work the players, management and club officials behind the scenes have put in that Ramblers were able to get a crowd of that figure in for a First Division game.
 

In recent weeks they picked up a great 1-0 victory away to fellow promotion rivals UCD and, of course, ended the unbeaten run of the stand-out side in the division this year in Limerick.

That was a 2-0 win over the First Division champions, just 24 hours after rivals for the play-off spot UCD had won 8-1 against Waterford United.

The pressure was on Cobh heading into their Munster Derby, but they well and truly delivered when it mattered most, knowing if they lost or drew it could have dented their chances.

Cobh may have surprised many with the campaign that they have had, but within the group that is not the case and they are where they are based on the hard work they have put in throughout the year.

For all of those associated with Ramblers, the club is most certainly in very good hands under Stephen Henderson and one of the most exciting night’s in the recent history of the club potentially awaits up in Athlone on Saturday night.