Jack Doherty happy to be back playing with Cobh Ramblers

Jack Doherty is making a return to Cobh Ramblers for the 2025 League Of Ireland Football season.

Last year Doherty plyed his footballing trade with Cork City, helping Tim Clancy’s side to promotion and the First Division title, scoring eight goals as the Leesiders secured a return to Premier Division Football.

Now he is back at St Colman’s Park in what is hoped is a promising era for the club.

Speaking to The Echo, Doherty said on returning to Ramblers.

“It was an easy decision to be honest, from talking to them with a while and where they want to go, the plans at the club and stuff like that. 

"It is a place I know very well and I enjoyed it there before. I felt at home down there.

“So I am just looking forward to getting back down there with the plans and stuff like that. It is exciting times ahead for people that follow the club.

“They are building a nice squad and there is people there who have won the league and know what it takes to win the league. 

"That helps and they just want to make it as professional as they can, bringing players in that have won it and want to be around a professional environment and makes it a lot easier around there for the other lads follow along.

“Once we set the right standards, that everything just flows then.” 

2024 saw Doherty part of the Cork City squad under Tim Clancy that won the First Division in comprehensive fashion.

Reflecting on his time at City, Doherty said: “It was nice to win the league and have the medal in your pocket. But I was just killed with injuries last year.

“You are just going into training, you are going to the gym and they are going out onto the pitch.

“Stuff like that I found it hard. 

"Mentally more than anything it was tough if you can’t be out on the pitch with everyone. Then when you get back and you are doing well, you are hit with another setback.

“So, it was difficult and challenging. But it was nice to have something at the end of the season and getting a medal and something you will have forever. 

"It was enjoyable that way. But mentally the other side was tough as you are there to play and you are not able, that was the hard part."

Doherty in his first spell at Ramblers scored 18 league goals in 2023, as the St Colman’s Park club made it to the promotion playoffs.

Cobh fans will be hoping to see more goals and moments of quality from the former Wexford, Longford Town and Waterford FC man over the coming months ahead.

In his previous spell at Ramblers, Doherty worked under a very astute tactician in the form of Shane Keegan.

“That was the most enjoyable season that I probably played football to be honest. Just the whole vibe around the place and it was just enjoyable," states Doherty.

“Everything just kicked on from there and the way Shane (Keegan) was, a good manager and set out how he wanted to play.

“It was nothing extraordinary, but he just got players into their best positions and everyone excelled.

“It was one of the fondest seasons I have had now. 

"Everything just clicked that year. We will be trying to go one better this season.

“Look it is wide open, if you get the right start and keep the momentum, anyone can push to win the league. 

"If you are not pushing to win the league, then there is no point being in it.” 

 The 30 year-old will now be linking up with the new Ramblers manager Michael McDermott. 

The former Iran and Qatar national team assistant coach sees Doherty as a player who has the ambition and the quality which the club desire.

Looking forward to playing under the new Ramblers boss McDermott for the upcoming campaign and what Ramblers should be targeting in 2025, Doherty added this.

“Everything sounds positive. They are saying all of the right things. 

"But we have to prove it on the field. There is no point doing all of the talking, you have to do it on the pitch.

“It sounds all positive and they want to do things the right way, play the right way and stuff like that.

“So, it’s looks forward to being an exciting season so hopefully everyone buys into it. 

"There is some good people around there, so it should hopefully be a successful season.”