Cobh can build on positive season
SOCCER
Daire Walsh
IT WAS a heartbreaking aggregate defeat for them in the SSE Airtricity League First Division Promotion play-off at United Park last Friday night, but Cobh Ramblers defender Chris McCarthy feels it is important for the club to focus on the positives of an encouraging season.
McCarthy was playing for the St Colman’s Park outfit when they were struggling to make an impact in the second-tier of Irish soccer just a few short years ago, and he is proud of the progress they have made in 2016.
“It’s bitter alright, but it’s done with now. We’ve got to take the positives, and it’s been a successful season from where we were. I was there when we didn’t win any away game all season,” McCarthy stated.
“That was three years ago, so I’ve been from the very low, and we steadily progressed, and we’re beating the best of teams. We beat everyone this year, the likes of Limerick. I’m just proud of the lads. Roll on next year, I suppose.”
McCarthy returned to the Cobh starting line-up after sitting out the first-leg through suspension. He explained that it was tough to sit out the home part of the play-off last Saturday week (October 22), but with Cobh boss Stephen Henderson rallying his troops in the days leading up to the tie, they took the game to Drogheda in the early stages of the contest.
“Last week it was hard. I was up in the stand watching it because I was suspended. The first-half they were flying, I think they just shaded it. They were the better side in the first-half, but they didn’t get started at all in the second-half. They allowed Drogheda into the game, and Drogheda fully deserved to win down in Colman’s Park last week.
“Stephen Henderson, he told us before the game, just go out and enjoy it. Go out and win the game. It was a great start with Connor [Ellis] scoring in the first minute, and we just pushed on, got the second. Their ‘keeper [Stephen McGuinness] made a wonderful save from Matthew Whelan to stop it from being 3-0 at half-time. He was man of the match I think in the end, so I think we were unlucky not to bring it to extra-time at least.”
Courtesy of six victories from their last seven games of the year, Cobh showed exactly what they are capable of. With new signings like Garry Comerford, Craig Donnellan and Connor Ellis making huge contributions, McCarthy believes they are ideally placed to push on even further in 2017.
“As I said, I’ve been there when we couldn’t win a game at all. I’ve seen how we’ve progressed. The signings we made with Garry Comerford, Craig Donnellan and Connor Ellis, they’ve been instrumental. I think we have the perfect mix of players, and they all get along well.
“Maybe with a couple of additions next year, we can push up in the league, because we’re full of optimism. We know we can mix it with the best. We’ll be very confident next year, we want to go one further,” McCarthy added.