Stuart Ashton: 'We have unfinished business from last season'

Cobh Ramblers start their new 2021 campaign with a juicy Leeside derby against neighbours Cork City in Turners Cross on Friday but manager Stuart Ashton is not daunted by the task as they have prepared very well over an extended 8-week period leading up to this weekend’s opening game.

‘’We are very happy with our preseason,” said Ashton speaking ahead of the game. “The lads have been working hard. We have had some friendlies and while the results have not been favourable to us, at this stage of the season its not about results, it’s about the lads getting game time and the new lads getting used to our systems of play.

“Everything in the camp is going well, apart from the fact that centre back Ben O’Riordan is injured for Friday night. We have adequate cover and are really looking forward to the derby’’

In terms of the derby fixture itself Stuart said “unfortunately the absence of crowds will take from it a little.

"We will not have the usual roar from the crowd, and the fact that players from both sides know each other will disappear for 90 minutes and we will get a typical derby game. However in the bigger picture it’s just our opening game and we have to keep our focus on that ‘’

The First Division is considered to be even more competitive this year than in previous years, a point Stuart agreed with, saying “you obviously had teams who just missed out on the play offs last season, like ourselves, and then you add in the teams that came down from the Premier Division, Shelbourne and Cork City, two great historic clubs

“Even with the competitiveness of this year’s league everybody has their own aspirations for the year ahead, we are no different. We have unfinished business from last season. The lads as a group felt they missed out on something. We have kept most of that group still together and they want to continue where they left off this year.’’

Cobh had one of the best defensive records in the First Division last year and Ashton will look on this aspect of the team as the foundation for 2021 while also trying to get a good overall balance in terms of attaching options.

They have lost striker Darragh Crowley whose loan period has ended and has returned to Cork City, but they have added a 19-year-old striker Regix Madika who comes from Waterford under-19s.

“We have brought in a number of players from the Munster Senior League. We did our homework on them first and to be fair they have fitted in well since they joined us.



"Corey Chambers also contacted us and he did well when on trial and we have signed him so he can provide competition for the other two goalkeepers Sean Barron and Gavin Ryan.

"Regix Madika came to us having played with Darryl Walsh at Waterford, unfortunately he got injured in preseason and will be out for a number of weeks.’’

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