Cobh Ramblers under-19 manager Ethan McCarthy: 'This is the most competitive squad that I have ever had'

The return of Ethan McCarthy to the Cobh Ramblers underage setup as under-19 head coach was very much welcomed by those at the club.

With Dec Coleman going up to join the backroom staff of Stephen Henderson’s first team at Ramblers, the under-19 position became vacant.

After spending time in the United States, he returns to Cobh for a second spell in management, having managed the under-17s at Ramblers during his first stint there.

The 26-year-old is very familiar with the philosophy of the club and knows how crucial the underage structure is to Henderson and all at Ramblers.

McCarthy described to extratime.ie the sheer enthusiasm Henderson has for the underage sides at Ramblers.

“To be fair to Stephen he is at every home game,” he said.

“When I was with the U17’s, I don’t think he missed hardly any of them. Hendo would be first person to text you and congratulate you if we had a good result.

“If you didn’t have a good result, he would be onto you as well to offer a little bit of encouragement and telling you to keep at it.

“That was one of the big selling points when Stephen rang me straight away. It was brilliant to come back.”

Another key selling point Ramblers has as a club is the way they can offer a route into first team League Of Ireland football for young players in Cork that are up to the required standard.

There are numerous examples of players in recent times making the step up from the underage ranks to the first team and Henderson has shown time and again he is willing to put his faith in youth.

Finding and developing players for the first team is a key role of the management at under-19, under-17 and under-15 levels.

“That is the goal of the club when you come and sign for us – if you do well enough you will get the opportunity to play Senior,” said McCarthy.

“I think that is what attracts some players when they come here, that they know the opportunity is there.

“There are players like Jaze Kabia; we have got another lad Beineon O’Brien up with them at the moment.

“But that is a huge selling point for the club. That if you do well you will get the opportunity to play League of Ireland.”

Though he is quite young for a coach, it is clear from seeing him taking a Ramblers under-19 session at the Mayfield Sports complex the enthusiasm McCarthy has for coaching.

He is a man that has already got significant experience under his belt.

“I got the news over in America that I passed and got the UEFA A Licence. I’d like to think I was very lucky with some of the coaches I’ve got to work with.

“I just got involved basically playing with the school team. After that a coach by the name of Stephen Hogan, a teacher up in Christians, asked me to get involved.

“It’s kind of gone from there. It’s something that I really just got interested in. I decided to put all of my attention into that.

“I think it has worked. I like to think I am lad that tries. I get to as many games as I can, get to as many training sessions.”

The new under-19 National League season gets underway very shortly. Ramblers start their campaign at the end of the month with a trip to Wexford.

Ramblers look to have the nucleus of what is a solid squad. Jaze Kabia and Beineon O’Brien Whitmarsh, players that are currently in Henderson’s first team squad, are both still eligible to line out for the under-19s.

On top of the many familiar faces, there are also a few new ones that have impressed in Munster Senior League Football.

Eoin Murphy, most recently with St Marys, is a lively attacker, while Greg Barrett (Blarney), Nathan Broderick (Rockmount), Sean O’Driscoll (Leeside) and Craig McSweeney (St Marys) are all new arrivals to St Colman’s Park.

Preparations are going well for the squad and McCarthy, who has been impressed by the attitude seen thus far from the group of players he is working with.

“For me as a manager this is probably the most competitive squad that I have ever had.

“I think you could see at training, you can see it in the matches there is a real quality there. It is going to be tough trying to find an eleven to pick, but it is a good job I have.

“Overall we are looking forward to the season. Last season was exceptional, what they done probably nobody gave them a chance [of] beforehand.

“Everyone thought, no, Cobh Ramblers won’t be up there competing. That team last year have set the standards of what Cobh Ramblers have to try to achieve.

“Am I standing here [saying] we are going to finish first again? I am not saying that.

“But what we will try and do is be competitive in every game again. If we can do that we will give ourselves a chance of doing well.

“That’s the main goal is that every game we play, we are competitive and we will see what happens at the end of the season then.”