It is shaping up to be another fascinating week at the Markets Field, with Bray Wanderers coming to town this Friday night.
The League of Ireland First Division table makes for excellent reading for fans of Limerick’s Treaty United, with the Shannonside club sitting proudly at the top after the opening three games.
Tommy Barrett’s men are the only team in Ireland’s top two tiers with a 100% record still in tact, having registered a win in each of their outings so far. There has never been this much excitement around the club, with new owners Tricor Pacific a breath of fresh air into the organisation, led by CEO Ciara McCormack.
It is shaping up to be another fascinating week at the Markets Field, with Bray Wanderers coming to town this Friday night. Take a look back at what has been a fantastic season thus far.
Cobh Ramblers (H) Friday February 16
United got their 2024 League of Ireland First Division campaign off to the perfect start on opening night, as they beat Cobh Ramblers 3-1 in the Markets Field.
The Garryowen venue was packed out, as 1,926 supporters filled the field to watch the Shannonsiders get the better of the Cork outfit, inspired by 21-year-old Thomas Considine.
It was the perfect debut for Considine, who bagged a brace to claim three points for his side, aided by a Ramblers own-goal.
There was an element of luck to the opener, as a Robbie Lynch throw-in was turned home by a Cobh defender, but the crowd were in raptures nonetheless.
A period of control early in the second half saw the visitors get back on level terms, as former Treaty striker Matt McKevitt finished off a Cobh break to make it 1-1.
The Shannonsiders were not to be disheartened, and their moment came just minutes later, as Considine bagged his first of the evening.
With the number ten on his back the new signing jinked inside onto his left foot, before wrapping his effort past Ramblers keeper Darragh Burke.
The visitors roared back with attacking waves of their own but failed to convert, and all eyes were on Considine once more, as the youngster collected the ball on the right side of the box and finished calmly into the bottom left with his seemingly magic left boot.
UCD (A) Friday February 23
Barrett’s side made it two wins from two a week later, as they headed to the capital and pipped UCD to a 1-0 victory.
Backed by the passionate support of the Blue Army who made the trip to the UCD Bowl, Treaty managed to get a vital three points from a hard fought contest.
Playing in their brand new red away strip, the visitors failed to generate a clear cut chance in a cagey opening half, although they did not face much threat down their own end.
It looked as though it was going to be one of those days when striker Enda Curran missed a penalty just before the hour mark, the Galway native denied by UCD keeper Kian Moore from 12 yards.
Over ten minutes later Curran did have the ball in the back of the net, as he got on the end of a Corey Chambers punt to produce a cultured left-footed finish past Moore.
Advantage Treaty.
The college side applied the pressure as the clock ticked down, but Barrett’s men stood firm to secure the three points in Dublin.
Kerry FC (A) Friday March 1
Treaty made it three wins from three just last week, as they were on the road once more, this time heading to the Kingdom to take on Kerry FC.
The Blue Army once again followed their beloved team, as they made the trip to Tralee to witness a Yoyo Mahdy strike to claim all three points.
Kerry’s Croatian keeper Antonio Tuta was called into action several times in the opening half, as he produced a string of superb saves to deny the visitors.
Corey Chambers pulled out a terrific save with his feet to keep Sean McGrath’s effort out. The keeper would later be replaced by 17-year-old Michael Dike, who made his debut for the club.
The hosts were ever so close to taking the lead momenta before half-time, when Daniel Okwute got in and rattled the crossbar, his effort deflecting away to safety and the sides headed in level at the break.
A scramble in the box which included a Tuta save and a strike off the crossbar culminated in Mahdy turning home on the hour mark, sending the Treaty faithful into raptures.
Okwute continued to threaten for the hosts, and looked to have snatched his side a point when he was brought down by substitute keeper Dike in the fifth minute of added time.
Kerry no.9 Ryan Kelliher stepped up and blasted the resulting penalty over the bar, to the delight of Dike and the jubilant travelling Treaty fans.
What now?
Barrett played a heavily rotated side in Monday night’s Munster Senior Cup semi-final loss to Kerry, with the manager seemingly hoping to continue his side’s strong start to the league campaign.
All eyes are on the Markets Field this Friday, with the Shannonsiders playing their first game at the Garryowen venue since opening night when they welcome Bray Wanderers to town.
Wanderers find themselves in fifth place in the table, picking up three points from a trip to Kerry, having lost the opener at home to UCD.
The sides met on four occasions last season, with the pair picking up a win each, as well as playing out two draws.
Get your tickets for Friday night here.
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