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Ramblers’ Keith O’Flynn Wins Cork City & County Youth Award

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Des Donnelly, sales and marketing manager with The Gresham Metropole Hotel (main sponsor) presents the March 2014 Cork City & County Youth Sports Award to Keith O'Flynn, captain of the Cobh Ramblers FC u-19 squad. Included, left to right, are Seán O'Sullivan, awards coordinator and judge; John Spillane, commercial manager Cobh Ramblers FC; Cllr Joe Kavanagh, John Buckley, John Buckley Sports (award sponsor); Tony Fitzgerald, vice-president Football Association of Ireland (FAI); Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Michael O'Connell and Martin Cambridge, manager Cobh Ramblers FC with the Enda McGuill U-19 national cup. Picture: Tom Doherty

Des Donnelly, sales and marketing manager with The Gresham Metropole Hotel (main sponsor) presents the March 2014 Cork City & County Youth Sports Award to Keith O’Flynn, captain of the Cobh Ramblers FC u-19 squad. Included, left to right, are Seán O’Sullivan, awards coordinator and judge; John Spillane, commercial manager Cobh Ramblers FC; Cllr Joe Kavanagh, John Buckley, John Buckley Sports (award sponsor); Tony Fitzgerald, vice-president Football Association of Ireland (FAI); Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Michael O’Connell and Martin Cambridge, manager Cobh Ramblers FC with the Enda McGuill U-19 national cup.  Picture: Tom Doherty

CORK CITY & COUNTY YOUTH AWARDS MARCH 2014 WINNER Mr. Keith O’Flynn, captain Cobh Rambers U-19 soccer side

Winners of the Enda McGuill U-19 National Cup for the first time

The latest winner of the Cork City & County Youth Award is Keith O’Flynn, captain of the Cobh Ramblers U-19 soccer team. He follows February winner, Niamh Looney of Muskerry Judo Club and January winner, basketball player Olivia Dupuy.

2013 winners included Emma Cassidy of Sunday’s Well Swimming Club, dual GAA Star Michael Cahalane, jockey Connor King, lady boxer Christina Desmond, Niall Cashman (hurling), Eddie Dunbar (cycling) June’s winner, Cork Ladies U-14 football captain Grace Culloty, May’s winner, Dylan Fitzgibbon (Taekwon-Do), April’s winner, the Bandon U-19 rugby side who lifted the All-Ireland U19 title, Alan Browne, soccer, Katie Galvin, Camogie and Edel Thornton, Basketball.

The monthly Youth Sports Award, sponsored by The Gresham Metropole Hotel, main sponsor, courtesy of general manager Roger Russell in association with John Buckley Sports (award sponsor) is now in its fourth year and continues to grow in stature thanks to its sponsors.

Founded in 1922, Cobh Ramblers are part of the culture of Cobh and indeed part of the rich sporting heritage of Cork. Until 1985 they were a Munster Senior league side but over a decade of sustained success meant Ramblers joined the League of Ireland ranks in that year.

Since then Ramblers have placed a huge emphasis on youth development as a means to providing the club with playing talent. Of course their most famous son is one Roy Keane, but many others have gone on to have long careers in the famous claret and blue jersey at national level.
Cobh Ramblers Under 19s

Since its inception three years ago the FAI Under 19 National League has proved to be a great success in providing a link from under age football through to senior level.
That has been very evident in here in Cork with Cork City winning the Elite division league for the third time in a row; now it’s the turn of Ramblers to be in the spotlight following their memorable FAI Enda McGuill U-19 Cup final win.

Indeed, this is the third national title in the last three years that Ramblers have gained; winning the FAI U-16 Cup three years ago, they followed it up with victory in the southern section of the U-19 League in 2012 and now another National Cup success.

Keith O'Flynn, captain of the Cobh Ramblers FC u-19 squad and March 2014 winner of the Cork City & County Youth Sports Award, proudly displays the Enda McGuill U-19 national cup at the awards lunch. Included, left to right, are Des Donnelly, sales and marketing manager with The Gresham Metropole Hotel (main sponsor); Pat McAuliffe, RTÉ Sport; Trevor Welch, TV3 Sport and Billy Barry 96FM.   Picture: Tom Doherty

Keith O’Flynn, captain of the Cobh Ramblers FC u-19 squad and March 2014 winner of the Cork City & County Youth Sports Award, proudly displays the Enda McGuill U-19 national cup at the awards lunch. Included, left to right, are Des Donnelly, sales and marketing manager with The Gresham Metropole Hotel (main sponsor); Pat McAuliffe, RTÉ Sport; Trevor Welch, TV3 Sport and Billy Barry 96FM. Picture: Tom Doherty

Ramblers’ path to the U-19 final and ultimate success was not an easy one. A first round victory over Limerick FC on penalties was followed by another narrow win over UC.D on a 2-1 scoreline.
Drawn away to Waterford in the quarter-finals, Ramblers came out on top in extra-time by 4 goals to 2.

A local derby semi-final in late January played in Carrigaline against City saw Ramblers prevail against the odds; a man short as early as the 2nd minute, Ramblers showed their mettle winning a nail biter by 3-2 after extra-time.

Given home advantage against Drogheda in the final, Ramblers fell behind early on but captain Keith O’Flynn led the comeback to lead Ramblers to Cup success.

Ramblers Squad
Steven Hickey (goalkeeper), Sean O’Mahony, Cian Murphy, Mikey Meaney, Kelvin Thompson, Robert Lynch, Chris McCarthy, George Gill, Ryan Goldsmith, Jonathan Creamer, Dave Walsh, Keith O’Flynn (captain), Daniel Barry,

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