Mikie Rowe on Cobh Ramblers' defeat to Waterford, his future and manager Shane Keegan

IT has been a long season for Cobh Ramblers, certainly a lot longer than the majority of League of Ireland fans would have predicted before a ball was kicked, but the way they have rose to the challenge is nothing short of admirable.

While things didn’t end the way Cobh would have wanted, Galway loanee and summer signing Mikie Rowe feels they can’t have any regrets after their 2-1 defeat to Waterford.

“I don't know if disappointed is the right word, because at the end of the day, when you look back, we gave it absolutely everything,” Mikie explains. “Nobody, not one player could have given more.

“It's disappointing not to not to win. But we left it all out there and gave 100%. That's what Shane asked before the game and that's what we produced.

“The improvement from finishing bottom last year to being within extra time of going to a promotion/relegation playoff final, it doesn't happen without an unbelievable group and an unbelievable coaching staff. The club is going in the right direction, there's no doubt about that.” 

With the team giving Ramblers fans a season they’ll never forget, Rowe credits manager Shane Keegan for how he has transformed the team and their mentality on matchday.

“I think he's put in place a platform; he lets players play, he keeps players that aren't playing happy and there's players coming in and out all the time. It's the group dynamic.

“It was definitely like a family especially coming towards the end, and I think that was a huge reason why we came so close tonight to be honest.

When the goal went in and we had chances, I really did think we were going to do it.

“I think there was a couple of different parts of the game tonight. The first 20 minutes we had to ride the storm, which we did, and we were incredibly disciplined at half time.

“They scored, and then we got on top and I think we deserved to bring in extra time. Margins in football and big games are crazy, we could have gone 2-1 up, and then we go 2-1 down, but we made them work tooth and nail for that so we can't have any regrets. We don't have any regrets.” 

Though Mikie has loved his time at Cobh, he’s still a Galway player by contract. Will he be there next season?

“It's so hard to say right now, I don't know. I'll chat to the club, of course. I would definitely like to make it work, [but] it's the League of Ireland offseason, so you just don't know what's going to happen.

“I’ve really felt a part of it. Shane has given me the platform to revive my career in a sense. So, I really appreciate that and what the club has done for me, so all that will be taken into account.”