How the City-Ramblers rivalry could be transformed should Cobh beat Waterford

A relegation/promotion playoff between Cork City and Cobh Ramblers is badly needed for the Cork derby. The two clubs are ‘rivals’ – but solely because of their geographical proximity.

There is no real competitive rivalry between the two, there’s a massive difference between the teams.

Cork City have won as Premier Division titles (3) as Cobh Ramblers have spent seasons in the Premier Division since City won their first title in 1992-93. For years Cork City have been prying away the best at Cobh Ramblers, poaching staff, academy prospects, and even going so far in taking the admin of the Cobh Ramblers TikTok account just in the past year and bringing him to City.

That is how big the difference is between the clubs.

POACHING

With the fact that Cork City are a fully professional club, compared to Cobh Ramblers who have been a struggling semi-professional side for years, it must be really demoralising having your main rival take what’s yours because they can offer a player or staff member a fully professional role.

Conor Drinan is the most recent of those, with the young midfielder signed by City this summer because he wanted to become a professional footballer, and City can make that happen.

Were Cobh to win promotion to the Premier Division at City’s expense, it would no longer be such a one-sided rivalry.

Cobh Ramblers’ progress under Shane Keegan this year has been staggering, with the manager taking them from the bottom of the First Division last year, to being within touching distance of a return to Premier Division football in just two transfer windows.

He’s turned what was a fruitless team, into one of the most feared First Division sides.

His policy of improving the entire squad has left him with unrelenting competitiveness for places, and a hungry squad willing to die for the badge, and hungry to win.

City on the other hand have had a torrid time since making their return to the Premier Division.

Having started the season with Colin Healy in charge, Liam Buckley took over when Healy resigned, and their woes remained. Buckley stepped back into the role of sporting director, and they’re now under their third boss of the year in interim manager Richie Holland.

While there is no denying that Cork City have been very unfortunate at times with refereeing decisions and bad luck, they’re still six points off eighth placed Sligo Rovers, and guaranteed to remain in ninth.

Suffering 20 defeats in 35 games is not easy, and that without a doubt, will dampen morale within the camp.

For two successive seasons the Ramblers have edged out City at Turner’s Cross to win the Munster Senior Cup title, and while last year it was a pyrrhic victory for the team who finished bottom of the second tier, this year it was much more than that.

Partner the MSC win over City with their home draw against Galway United while playing with 10 men, as well as their home and away wins over Waterford, Cobh Ramblers have shown they can compete with the big teams.

While both Ramblers and City rotated heavily for the MSC final, Cobh came out on top, and deservedly so. Their 3-1 win showed the difference in unity between the teams and was a testament to the Rams character all season.

Should they get over the line against Waterford today, which is a tough ask, we could see the rivalry between the Cork clubs transformed.

Cobh Ramblers would no longer be in the shadows.