Premier target still in sight despite Ramblers' chaotic year

Cobh Ramblers' Faruq Adegboyega and Dundalk's Eoin Kenny tussle for the ball during their SSE Airtricity League First Division clash at St Colman's Park. Picture: David Keane.

Cobh Ramblers are once more a club in turmoil as they make the short journey to Limerick to face Treaty United in the first leg of their promotion play-off semi-final at the Markets Field tonight, kick-off 7:45pm.

The club has been rocked by the departure of Mick McDermott as manager, with former Cork City coach Richie Holland taking charge for now.

This follows a dramatic year that saw two takeovers, a flirt with administration, and a title charge that went down to the penultimate weekend.

Despite all the upheaval Cobh can still aim to play Premier Division football in 2026, something last done at St Colman’s Park in 2008 under Stephen Henderson.

Should the club get the better of Treaty United, with their second leg pencilled in for Tuesday night at St Colman’s Park, they will play the winner of the tie between Bray Wanderers and UCD. The team that progresses will come up against the side sitting second from bottom in the Premier Division, either Waterford, Sligo Rovers, or Galway United.

There’s a lot of football still to be played, especially for a football club that saw their expectations skyrocket last year when a long term search for investment ended with FC32 coming to the Great Island.

The multinational group imploded shortly after the first round of fixtures which meant Cobh were weeks, maybe days, away from administration before a takeover by Digital Athlete Ventures at the beginning of July.

The Ramblers went on to finish the season in second place, their hopes of a title decider on the final day evaporating as Dundalk sealed automatic promotion with a victory over Finn Harps at Oriel Park.

McDermott departed just over a week later, four days from the first leg of the semi-finals against Treaty United.

Ramblers have the First Division’s top scorer in their ranks, Barry Coffey, who hit the back of the net 26 times. Winger Cian Bargary also registered the most assists, with nine.

Of the sides' four meetings in the league, Cobh won three and lost at the Markets Field at the beginning of July.