Jake Hegarty makes move from Midleton to Cobh Ramblers

Cobh Ramblers have announced the signing of striker Jake Hegarty from Munster Senior League side Midleton for the 2021 League of Ireland season.

The striker has spent the last few seasons in Munster Senior League Premier Division with Midleton FC, and was among the top goal scorers in the most recent league campaign prior to its disruption due to Covid-19. 

The 26-year-old helped Midleton to the 2017/18 MSL title and has also played a key role in their FAI Intermediate Cup runs in recent years. Hegarty also featured on the Midleton team which was knocked out of the 2016 FAI Cup by Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght Stadium. 

“When I first heard about possibly coming to Cobh Ramblers, I was training myself at home and doing what I could,” he told the club’s media team. “It was strange in lockdown, out road-running, doing some online coaching and doing gym work from home.

"I had to sharpen up when I knew I was coming here. It’s paid off and I’ve settled in well so far. There is a step up in intensity definitely, but I’m fitting in well.”

“The last few years at Midleton were brilliant and the club have been great for me. I wasn’t naturally a striker growing up and when I was first asked to go up front I was a bit hesitant. But when you see yourself scoring every week you can’t ask for anything more.”

Hegarty’s first game for Cobh will be against local rivals Cork City on the first day of the 2021 First Division season.

“I can’t wait for the derbies with Cork City. We played them last year with Midleton in the Munster Cup, we gave a good account of ourselves and personally I scored two. Hopefully I can do the same for Ramblers this year.

“I’ve I always set targets for myself personally. In the last few years with Midleton, the target was to get into double figures for goals, and if I didn’t I saw it as failure. With Cobh, in the League of Ireland, there are more games so hopefully I get to play, and score, as many that I can.”

Cobh have repeatedly found talent in the Munster Senior League. Their most recent additions were goalkeeper Sean Barron, who joined from Avondale United, and striker Conor Drinan. The pair were instrumental for the Rams in their hunt for a playoff spot in 2020. 



    About Dylan O'Connell

    Dylan is a freelance journalist based in Cork. He joined Extratime in 2016 and he covers games all across Ireland. His bylines include The Echo, Irish Independent, Irish Examiner, The 42, RTÉ Sport, and Irish … View Full Profile