Conor McDonald: The Student

In Conor McDonald’s first action of the 2025 transfer window he has signed Northern Irish players Trevor McGrath and Joe Lecky.

McGrath is a 19-year-old striker and Cobh paid €35,000 for the Northern Ireland U21 international. He arrived from Cliftonville where has been a first-team player for three seasons in the Danske Bank Premiership.

In his first season, McGrath scored 5 goals in 11 games which secured his spot as Cliftonville’s main striker for the 2023/24 campaign where he scored 11 in 32 games.

Last season, the 19-year-old scored 7 goals in 18 games, concluding an impressive spell at his boyhood club.

Cobh’s second signing from Northern Ireland was goalkeeper Joe Lecky from Dungannon Swifts in a €26,000 transfer fee.

In 2022, Lecky became Dungannon’s first-choice goalkeeper, making 27 appearances, keeping a total of 14 clean sheets throughout his debut season in the Northern Irish top-flight.

As Lecky left his club, he amassed 104 appearances across three seasons in the first team, conceding 93 goals but keeping 40 clean sheets.

Cobh are expecting another two arrivals from abroad to come into their growing Under-19 squad as Dario Castelnuovo and Jean-Pierre Colin have both agreed contracts with The Rams.

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James: I'd certainly like to think so Conor's scoring on and off the field!

Two very promising young players who are bound to excel under McDonald's management. Roma will be tough opposition in the Europa League. You never know what can happen over two legs though.

2020-06-08 01:02#273531 J_ames :

Hahaha I love this!

Another two good additions. Certainly the right thing to do with investing in youth to then bring through to the first team later on

a couple of good additions for both the present and the future

not enough to avoid being thrashed by Roma thou

In one of the more unexpected moves of the transfer window, Chelsea have signed Cobh Ramblers’ goalkeeper Tadhg Ryan for €200,000.

Ryan spent last season as Cobh’s starting goalkeeper as Conor McDonald led them to a treble-winning season as well as the Champions League group stages.

Chelsea already have two goalkeepers likely to be ahead of the Irishman in the pecking order with Gerónimo Rulli and Moisés Ramírez both playing in games this season.

Despite this, Ryan has been given the number one shirt for the remainder of the 2024/25 English Premier League campaign.

“He’s done well at Cobh and the job he did with them in the league last season,” said Chelsea manager Frank Lampard.

“We’ve obviously got Gerónimo [Rulli] and Moisés [Ramírez] in the squad this season so I think Tadhg will have to be patient here.”

Ryan joined Cobh Ramblers from their divisional rivals Dundalk for a €300,000 fee in 2024 and he has made 201 league appearances throughout his career which has mainly spanned in Ireland.

He has signed a €40,000 per week contract at Stamford Bridge until 2028.

Cobh recently announced the departure of right-back Pol Valentín to Real Jaén for €250,000 as summer signing Tyias Browning pushed the Spaniard further down the pecking order.

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Scott: I'm certainly interested to see the development of Lecky who may be coming into the first-team after this particular departure! You're right about Roma, there are a lot better teams that we could've drawn at this point.
tedbro20: At this level, we're still not going to have enough money to buy the best Irish players around so it's just a procedure we have to follow!
Tango: Indeed, nice to hear of your vote of confidence against Roma

I had to google Tadhg to learn how to pronounce it

Fat Frank clearly saw that scoring record and wanted him in A historic win over Salzburg to get you into the Europa League, but a tough draw there against Roma. Will certainly be a tough one to get through but with your squad continuing to improve who knows! The sale of Ryan is a big loss but I am sure you will find a new keeper with ease.

That's a huge loss as his talent was evident. Not only that, but he departs for loss than what he was bought for!

2020-06-08 12:08#273581 Griffo : I had to google Tadhg to learn how to pronounce it

I had to check it multiple times to see if that wasn't a typo

but nope, there is a video of Saoirse Ronan pronouncing it, so it's officially Irish

Cobh Ramblers have finalised the loan deal bringing Wolves centre-back Martin Berry to St. Colman’s Park on a season-long loan deal.

With the likes of Kern Hernandez and Peter Barnes already ahead of him in the pecking order, Berry will have to fight for his place in the Cobh team that will be making their debut in the Europa League this February.

Since coming through the academy at Wolves, Berry has failed to make an impact on the first-team under Luís Castro, mainly finding his place in Under-18 and Under-23 Development League games in the English system.

Berry, 19, is yet to make his senior debut but that could change this season under Conor McDonald who is well-known in Ireland for giving young players a chance.

Cobh have agreed to pay 100% of his €3,000 per week contract at Molineux.

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Griffo & Tango: I'm glad you cleared this up because I had no idea either despite him being my #1 all year.
Seb: Who doesn't want a keeper who can also score?! McCormick will have to step up with our new lad Lecky filling in as back-up when needed.
Scott: When Chelsea come knocking, it's hard to keep hold of players!

Cobh is paying higher salaries than some Argentine teams hahahaha

Maintaining healthy competition for places.

Berry looks very good, if you can get his heading up: you'll have the best CB in Ireland tbh. Have you had enough of a reputation boost yet to actually go after Irish players in England on permanent deals? The likes of Harry Arter, etc. I mean Obviously not him though... he'd nearly be retired by now!

You should be able to breeze by a Totti-less Roma btw...

With many players returning from their loan spells, many are wondering how many of those will get their chance at Cobh in the 2025 season.

Conor McDonald’s history with purchasing lower-tier Spanish players dates back to the free transfer of Xavier Río in 2023.

However, with many having consecutive loan spells away from Cork either in Ireland or in their home nation there are many players and fans alike wondering about the future for their youngsters.

Right-midfielder Pelayo Ventura has spent the past two seasons on loan to fellow Irish Premier League side Waterford and he pulled of some incredible performances under Phil Jagielka last season.

Pelayo Ventura arrived on a free transfer in January 2023 from Atlético Astorga – a Spanish team in the nation’s fourth tier.

Last season the 19-year-old scored eight goals and assisted eleven times in 25 games in the league, lifting Waterford into the European spots as well as winning the FAI Cup.

With the departure of Tony Springett on loan to Dundee United, a spot has opened up on the right flank that many fans think is a perfect opportunity for Pelayo Ventura to seize his place in the Cobh side.


Similarly, on the other wing José Antonio Castro was on loan with Pelayo Ventura last season at Waterford and although Ventura stole the weekly headlines, Castro put in some great performances worthy of a place in the Cobh team.

Castro scored 3 goals and assisted 7 times in 21 league games last season in the Premier League.


Attacking midfielder José Agustín Royo lined up alongside Ventura and Castro on a weekly basis at Waterford last season and he made the most appearances out of the three.

With 9 goals and 4 assists in 29 league games in 2024, there are calls from the Cobh fans to let Royo challenge Adrian Granger for his attacking midfield spot going into the new season.

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Tango: That Champions League money coming through
Scott: Can never have too many options!
James: One of the best in Ireland... Only for a season, though. Hopefully Wolves might be willing to let him go permanently at some point. I haven't really attempted Irish players in England, at least senior players, my scouts never seem to propose them. As for Roma, we shall see