Cobh Ramblers face big weekend against Kerry and Treaty to stay the hunt for a play-off spot

Cobh Ramblers are out to record just their second win of the season when they face Kerry FC this evening at Mounthawk Park, 7.45pm.

This will be the start of a double header of games for Fran Rockett and his players, and it will be followed by a visit of Treaty United to St Colman’s Park on Monday at 5pm.

The Ramblers will go into his weekend second from bottom; three points from a Wexford side that occupy the final play-off spot.

Rockett knows times are tough and he is keen to place this in the context of his squad’s overall health as they have had to deal with a number of injuries over the last few weeks.

“I want the squad to breed consistency, but the biggest problem is we have to chop and change due to the injuries and we're patching lads up since pre-season,” he said.

“I took the decision against UCD to just keep these lads out of the squad until they are 100% because it's not fair. 

"These boys are warriors; the likes of Cian Coleman, Gary Buckley, Shane Griffin, and, then we've obviously Waterford’s Shane Griffin and Luka Le Bervet out too.

“These boys would play on one leg if you ask them, but I think we've got to take the pain for the longer term, and it's a decision that we made. "So, was I on the sideline against UCD giving out about the endeavour from the players? I wasn't. 

"I know where we're at now, currently, this isn't a shock to me.” 

The Ramblers will try and rebound against a Kerry side sitting just above them in eighth place and a version Treaty United that is propping up the table. 

Rockett sees this weekend as a source of points as he eyes a comeback in two Munster Derbies.

“Now we're going into a game with the likes of Kerry and the likes of Treaty and it’s a doubleheader,” he said.

“It's a good one to bounce back. I think they're very similar in terms of ourselves, in terms of new squads put together. 

"They're not, like, seasoned, as in, if you look at the likes of UCD and those groups that have a core nucleus over the past couple of seasons.

“I think the likes of ourselves, Kerry, and Treaty are very similar in that vein as well. 

"Hopefully we can get one or two players back for it and just maintain the positivity. There’s a really good group of players there. 

"I think I'm old and bold enough to understand it, but when we come through this little barren spell, there's going to be a lot of growth.” 

The Ramblers will be up against a Kerry side that started the year with one victory and three draws.

Their most recent game was with Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds and Colin Healy’s side were downed 2-1, with Ryan Kelly getting the winner in the third minute of injury time.

This run involves a squad featuring Cian Bargary, Cian Murphy, and Jonas Hakkinen, three members of the Cobh squad that finished second last year under Mick McDermott and lost to Treaty United in the promotion play-off semi-finals. 

Ewan Lee also lined out with Ringmahon Rangers and UCC in the Munster Senior League, while Arran Healy and Niall Brookwell once wore the colours of Cork City.

The crossovers are very real. 

There was even a possibility of Colin Healy getting the Cobh job at one point during the winter of 2024 after investment had been secured from FC32. 

That was a long time ago and a lot has happened since those days of new signings and sky-high expectations.

The Ramblers are now looking to steady their course and find form at the end of the first round of fixtures, at a time when they get ready for two games in quick succession. 

A perfect weekend could see them sneak into the play-offs and ignite something greater. 

The most important thing is knowing that there is still time to get things right despite some mixed results already incurred this season.