Matchday 26 Preview – Treaty United -v- Kerry FC

As Treaty United celebrates its 100th senior men’s competitive game, it is perhaps fitting that Kerry FC, a new club seeking to establish a longstanding presence in the League of Ireland, are the visitors to the Markets Field.

Match Details:

Teams – Treaty United v Kerry FC

Competition – SSE Airtricity League of Ireland First Division

Date – Friday, August 25.

Time – 19:45

Venue –  Markets Field, Garryowen Rd, Limerick, V94 TP9W

Tickets – https://treatyunitedfc.com/tickets/

Officials:

Referee –Marc Lynch

Assistants – Jonathan Hennessy & Ricky Crean

Live Coverage:

The game will be streamed live on LOITV at the below link. Individual match passes can be purchased for €5 or viewers can purchase a season pass which will give them access to all games across the League of Ireland.

https://www.loitv.ie/en-int/livestream/treaty-united-v-kerry/1634863

Treaty United

Sitting five points behind the play-off spots with a game in hand is not a bad place to be considering the season Treaty United have experienced.

Results for Tommy Barrett’s side have been inconsistent but the team has shown time and time again that it has the ability to produce a result when most needed.

The 1-0 away win to Finn Harps in the side’s last outing exemplified that with a superb Dean George goal being backed up with a solid defensive performance to take away all three points from Ballybofey – a very difficult place to go for Limerick sides in recent years. 

That win was preceded by three defeats to league leaders Galway by three goals to nil, a heartbreaking 3-2 to Longford Town at home through a late winner for the visitors and a difficult trip to Wexford that ended in a 1-0 loss.

Indeed, prior to the victory in Donegal, Treaty’s last league win was away to Kerry.

With Waterford, Cobh and Wexford to come in the next three fixtures, it’s vital that the Shannonsiders pick up three points against the league’s bottom side.

Jordon Tallon and Andy Spain are out for Treaty.

Sean Guerins is unlikely to be ready for Kerry but may make it back for the Waterford game on Monday night.

Striker Enda Curran is a doubt.

Kerry FC

Just one win all season doesn’t tell the whole story of Kerry’s first season in League of Ireland football.

There have been a few drubbings, in 6-0 defeats to Wexford and Waterford and an early season 9-1 loss to Galway United, but as Billy Dennehy’s side has felt its way into senior football, the defeats have become narrower and Kerry can be a stubborn side to break down at times. 

Their FAI defeat to Premier division side Drogheda by a single goal was evidence of this with an impressive performance in front of a buoyant crowd giving hope for a bright future for the club.

Past Meetings

This will be just the fourth league fixture between the sides, with both clubs still in their formative days.

A keenly contested 1-1 draw in Tralee marked the first meeting between the clubs.

A dominant 4-0 victory for Treaty was the result as Kerry made their first trip to the Markets Field in April.

Goals from Marc Ludden, Dean George and Enda Curran sealed the points in Treaty’s first ever win at Mounthawk Park last month but an early goal from Kerry’s Sean McGrath and a late finish from Leonardo Gaxha are evidence that they are not to be underestimated. 

Kerry’s Matt Keane was a stalwart for Treaty in the club’s first two seasons in men’s senior football. He was appointed captain upon signing for his home county side. Martin Coughlan recently made the move to Tralee after finding first-team chances limited in Limerick.

W – (3-2, Away, Jul ‘23)

W – (4-0, Home, Apr ‘23)

D – (1-1, Away, Mar ‘23)