Cobh Ramblers sit third at the halfway stage of 2026 after a transitional campaign featuring change, young talent and a famous win at Turner’s Cross.
Pre-Season Expectations
Before the start of the 2026 season many League of Ireland pundits were tipping Cobh Ramblers to be the closest rivals to the assumed winners of the division in Cork City. To many Rams fans this seemed a little presumptuous, with this assessment largely based on an extremely strong Ramblers squad during the 2025 season.
While the team preformed very well on the pitch in 2025 the off-field distractions proved difficult. Coming into the 2026 season most Ramblers fans were hopeful rather than expectant, with a period of stability in the club seen as vital.
On the ownership front, FC32 left in the middle of the 2025 season with Digital Athletic Ventures taking over. This produced a large amount of change in club staff. Fran Rockett arrived as new First Team coach along with an almost entirely new backroom setup. Even the kitman moved on.
Conor Meade arrived as Director of Football. The club has a new chairperson in long standing committee member Sinead Sheridan and in recent days David Lenane has arrived as General Manager. In many ways the classic example of a transitional season.
On the pitch there was also much change, although this is not unusual at League of Ireland clubs. Most notable was the departure of 26 goal, and First Division Player of the Year, Barry Coffey who moved to Hartford Athletic in the United States. Nolan Evers also moved to America joining the Carolina Cores. A trio left for Kerry FC in the shape of Cian Murphy, who scored ten goals in the 2025 season, along with Cian Bargary and Jonas Häkkinen. Defensive midfielder Niall O’Keeffe moved onto Cork City. John O’Donovan joined University College Cork in the Munster Senior League.
The retentions were key for the 2026 season with both Rhys Gourdie and Dylan McGlade, who had joined in the 2025 summer transfer window, signing on for another season. Shane ‘Little Grif’ Griffin also signed for 2026. Wilson Waweru returned to Cobh after an excellent season on loan from Galway united in 2023. Gary Buckley was brought in at centre half while Oran Crowe was recruited from Kerry FC. Timo Martin, who excelled in his first season, also returned early in the season despite Corey Chambers being brought from Treaty United.
In keeping with the stated aim of the new ownership young players from the Cork region were also prioritised with Kia O’Neill, Rhys Kelly-Noonan and Lucas Curtin all being added to the squad. Rhy Brennan joined on loan from Bohemians and Callum Honohan joined on loan from Shamrock Rovers.
Early Season Form
In the first 18 games of the season injuries have been a recurring issue. Inspirational captain Cian Coleman has managed only seven appearances all season. Gary Buckley has missed seven games. In their absence highly experienced Brendeán Frahill has been excellent at the heart of the Rams defence. Shane ‘Little Grif’ Griffin is yet to start a game only making four appearances from the bench. Talismanic left back and local Cobh lad Luka Le Bervet has only played eight times this season in the League.
Dylan McGlade missed the first 4 games of the season. The young players that have started because of these injuries have been impressive. Lucas Curtin at left back, Oran Crowe and Mikey Carroll in midfield and Rhys Kelly-Noonan in attack have all stepped up and performed admirably.
A young transitional squad finding its feet coupled with a new backroom staff has inevitably led to somewhat erratic performances. A three nil home defeat to a Wexford side without Mikey Rowe on the opening day of the season was not the result fans had hoped for. A win away to Longford and a pair of draws against Finn Harps and Cork City steadied the ship somewhat.
Defeats to Athlone and UCD paired with a draw against Bray Wanderers left the Rams unfortunately off the pace. Ramblers then bounced back with three wins against Kerry, Treaty United and Finn Harps. A defeat to Wexford and a draw against Longford once again slowed progress.
The Story Of The Season So Far
Beating Cork City in Turners Cross was without doubt the highlight of the season so far, probably the highlight of several seasons. Dylan McGlade’s penalty won Ramblers their first ever League tie at the home of their local rivals. The fact that the Rams have taken 4 points from the two games against City is something the club can be rightly proud of. Maybe the subsequent celebrations went on too long as Cobh then lost two on the bounce including a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Bray.
Once again momentum changed as Ramblers won the next three matches against Athlone, Treaty United and Kerry. At the halfway point Cobh Ramblers sit third on 28 points, 2 points behind UCD in second. In a very tight league Bray sit in fourth, one point behind Ramblers. Wexford are in fifth a further 2 points behind Bray.
There can be little doubt that Dylan McGlade has been the standout player for Ramblers this season. With Barry Coffey gone McGlade appears to have a freer role and had managed to score 8 of Ramblers 21 goals. The linkup from McGlade with Rhys Gourdie as an attacking midfielder and Rhy Brennan on the left has been central to everything Ramblers have done well in an attacking sense this season.
Gourdie has 2 goals and 3 assists while Rhys Brennan has also 2 goals with 5 assists. The 19-year-old on loan from Bohemians always offers a threat in the attacking third with McGlade often being the beneficiary of the Brennans work out wide.
Wilson Waweru has been something of a disappointment to date. The striker returned to Cobh with a huge reputation from the 2023 season where Ramblers made it all the way to the Playoff final. Waweru’s start to the season was slow and finding the net proved elusive.
Rhys Kelly-Noonan and Kai O’Neill filled in as Waweru struggled, with each of the young striker scoring 2. However, perseverance has brought rewards for Waweru who has now scores 2 in his last 2 games. The mid-season break couldn’t have come at a worse time for Wilson.
Another highlight so far his season is the emergence of 15-year-old Ethan O’Donovan. The Clonakilty teenager became the youngest player to ever play senior League of Ireland football for Cobh Ramblers away to UCD at 15 years, 4 months and 17 days. The highly rated striker scored 28 goals in 24 games for the under 15s in 2025 and has been promoted to the senior squad.
Second Half Outlook
Looking forward to the 2nd half of the season things are going in the right direction for Cobh Ramblers. With the summer transfer window about to open the assumption is that there will be further additions to the squad. Goal scoring remains an issue and the addition of a centre forward could be prioritised.
With the inevitability that Cork City will win the league it appears that every other team in the division will be fighting for the playoff places. Cobh Ramblers seemed well positioned for this. Equally the form of the team going into the playoffs themselves will be crucial, as Ramblers found out last season as they fell at the first hurdle to a determined Treaty United side that had finished fifth. What position Cobh Ramblers finish in is largely irrelevant as long as they make the playoffs. Their form and ability going into the playoffs will be far more important.
Conclusion
In a half season that has had its ups and downs Ramblers can be quite happy to sit comfortably in the playoffs. Younger players in the squad have been given a chance and injuries to senior players have been covered admirably. Fran Rockett, in his first appointment as a League of Ireland head coach, has established a good team spirit and has handled triumph and adversary equally well. Its hard not to be happy when you’ve beaten Cork City on their own patch. The future looks bright for the claret and blue.
Player of The Season So Far: Dylan McGlade
Season Rating So Far: 7/10