Fri. Oct 11th, 2024

Treaty United travel to high-flying Cork City

Lee Lynch of Treaty United in action Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
The sides have drawn three times this season already

Treaty United return to League of Ireland First Division action this Friday night, as they travel Leeside to take on league leaders Cork City at Turners Cross.

The game, set to kick off at 7.45pm, will be the fourth and final meeting between the sides this season, with the pair playing out three draws already this term.

It was victory last time out for the Garryowen outfit, with Lee Devitt, Adam O’Halloran and David Tarmey all on hand to put three past Longford Town in a 3-1 victory at the Markets Field.

The Leesiders came away from Bray with a point last Friday, as they fought back from a two goal deficit to a 3-2 lead, before ultimately sharing the spoils after Ben Feeney’s leveller.

City are unbeaten in their last 15 league games, their sole loss this season coming away to Athlone Town at the end of May, but United have proved a tricky test for the champions elect this year.

Mark Byrne’s strike had the Shannonsiders on their way to victory when they faced off back in August, before Charlie Lyons drew the sides level late on and broke Treaty hearts. The sides also played out draws in March and May.

Tommy Barrett’s men have picked up just three league wins since that August meeting, although two of those have came in their most recent outings, as the Limerick side got the better of both Cobh Ramblers and Longford Town.

Tim Clancy’s side have the league title and promotion secured with a whopping 74 points already racked up, while Treaty cannot mathematically reach the coveted play-off spots anymore.

As such, the tie is in essence a dead-rubber, although this may allow the pair, particularly the visitors, to play with a renewed freedom.

17-year-old Limerick native Michael Dike kept a clean sheet away to Cobh Ramblers, and put in a fine performance against Longford Town. The keeper will expect to remain between the sticks on Friday night, ahead of his eighteenth birthday this Sunday.

Tickets for the game are available here, with the official LOITV stream of the game available here.