Matchday 1 Preview – Treaty United -v- Cobh Ramblers

It’s back! Friday night football returns at the Markets Field with familiar opponents Cobh Ramblers visiting Limerick.

Match Details:

Teams – Treaty United Vs Cobh Ramblers

Competition – SSE Airtricity League of Ireland First Division

Date – Friday, February 16.

Time – 19:45

Venue –   Markets Field, Garryowen, Limerick

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

Referee – Ray Matthews

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-cobh-ramblers/1705540

Treaty United

New ownership at Treaty United has seen the club garner national attention and with big-hitters Galway United and Waterford promoted last season, the men’s senior team will be looking at the play-off spots with a degree of confidence after just missing out last season. 

Tommy Barrett has once again assembled a very strong squad with a blend of new signings, the retention of experienced players and exciting prospects from the club’s academy. 

The resigning of the club’s record goal scorer Enda Curran along with the capture of centre-forward Yoyo Mahdy from Bray means Treaty will likely be a strong threat going forward.

The arrival of the highly-rated David Tarmey from Galway on loan provides even more attacking prowess.

The return of midfielder Callum McNamara has also boosted hopes of a promotion push, while club stalwarts Stephen Christopher and Willie Armshaw are also back for another season. Rising stars Darren Nwankwo and Fionn Doherty have also been retained.

The versatile and influential Mark Walsh captains the first team.

However, the squad will miss the experience of defender and record appearance-maker Marc Ludden who has retired, while fan-favourite Dean George has opted for a move closer to Dublin and has signed for Longford Town. Scorer of many spectacular goals, Success Edogun, has made the move to Finn Harps after 18-months in Limerick.

In terms of player availability, Friday night comes too soon for McNamara and Evan O’Connor, who will not be fit, while Barrett is monitoring the fitness of several others.

Cobh Ramblers

It has been a winter of big change for Cobh.

Manager Shane Keegan took the shock decision to step away after less than two seasons in charge. He has been replaced by Gary Hunt, former assistant and caretaker head coach at Waterford.

Expectations are still high with the noise from the camp being that the club feels it can at least emulate last season’s third-place finish.

However, that will be difficult with star man Jack Doherty swapping East Cork for Turners Cross after a move to Cork City.

Striker Wilson Wareru has moved to Sligo Rovers, while Mikie Rowe has signed for Wexford. 

The squad has been boosted by the arrival of Dean Larkin on loan from Waterford. 

Cobh have this week announced the signings of centre-forward Beineón O’Brien-Whitmarsh and Waterford Academy player of the year Alessandro De Sanctis who plays in defence.

Past Meetings

In 12 competitive outings between the sides, Treaty United have won four, Cobh four and and there have been four draws.

The majority of Cobh’s wins came against Treaty last season with the Limerick-side failing to get much change out of their Munster rivals.

Early in the 2023 season, Cobh arrived at the Markets Field and left with three points through a 3-0 victory which left the home crowd frustrated in an otherwise decent performance by Treaty. Wilson Wareru gave the visitors the lead on 61 minutes.

While Treaty pushed for an equaliser, Ramblers caught them on the break with two late goals from Jack Doherty wrapping up the win.

Doherty was at the centre of the early exchanges in the next meeting between the sides at St Colman’s Park in April.

Treaty’s defence was caught out in the second minute in that encounter as a set piece delivery found Doherty who swivelled and hit the net from close range. 

A Colin Conroy volley on 19 minutes was no more than Treaty deserved, though, as both sides had to settle for a point. 

A Liam Kervick goal on 80 minutes nicked all three points for Cobh back in June in Limerick.

Another agonising defeat came at St Colman’s Park in September – Brendan Frahill heading a late winner for the harbour-based club. 

Meetings last season

L – (0-1, Away, September ’23)

L – (0-1,Home, June ’23)

D – (1-1, Away, Apr ’23)

L – (0-3, Home, Mar ’23)