A look at Cobh Ramblers ahead of the 2024 SSE Airtricity Men's First Division
Cobh Ramblers will look back on 2023 as a year of great achievement. Running Waterford close in the last minutes of the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division Play-Off Final was hugely impressive.
Finishing third after a difficult 2022 shouldn’t be overlooked given the resources that Shane Keegan had to deal with but they face into 2023 without Keegan and usher in the Gary Hunt era for 2024.
The Rams will also have to deal with the loss of talisman Jack Doherty to their Cork City rivals who will be looking to win the Division.
Despite this, Hunt has moved fast to secure the likes of Brendan Frahill who was very impressive for Cobh last season making our SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division Team of the Year.
St. Colman’s Park has always been important to the Rams and they will also have to manage playing their home games at Turner’s Cross at the start of the season as they lay a new pitch in the ground.
It’ll be a bedding in period at the start for Hunt and Co but once up and running, they will be hoping to challenge for the Play-Offs for the second year in a row.
Having Cork City back in the Division will add an extra layer of spice to proceedings as we will revisit the Cork Derby again.
They will rely on Pierce Phillips and Jason Abbott this year to bring quality to the squad after impressing in 2024 which will build on an growing EA SPORTS LOI Academy set up which is producing more and more players each year.
Securing the services of Liam Kervick too will be important for Gary Hunt as he looks to build on the success in Cobh last year.
An opportunity remains for Cobh who were enjoying a big rise in attendances in 2023 and with a lot of off-the-field improvements happening each week, 2024 should see this trend continue.
Finish last season – 3rd
Manager – Gary Hunt
Key player – Liam Kervick
