This week’s Munster Derby sees third place Ramblers host seventh place Treaty United, in a game that both sides will certainly be targeting points from at St Colman’s Park
The Rams come into the tie on the back of a 4-1 defeat away to league leaders Galway United. Another Jack Doherty goal had Cobh level at the break that night in Eamonn Deacy Park but United showed their class in the second half, which included a brace from ex-Ram David Hurley. Shane Keegan’s side remain third in the table as Athlone couldn’t capitalise with their defeat to Wexford. Treaty meanwhile come in to the game on the back of a 2-2 draw against Waterford. Success Edogun proved the hero with a second half brace to secure a point for the Limerick outfit on Monday. Last Friday they earned a 3-1 victory over Kerry. Veteran striker Enda Curran found the net twice, along with defender Sean Guerins. The Limerick men are four points off Wexford in the final play-off berth and will be hoping a solid last quarter is enough to climb the table.
The sides have met four times already this year. Ramblers have won the three meetings in Markets Field, including in the Munster Cup semi-final, with the sole fixture in St Colman’s Park ending 1-1. It’s a vast change from Treaty’s opening two seasons in Irish football, a spell where the Rams didn’t register a win over the Shannonsiders.
Former Treaty man Matt McKevitt could face his former club for the first time having joined Ramblers from Avondale this summer. The Clonmel native scored in St Colman’s for Treaty back in 2021 and it would be a fitting tie for him to open his Ramblers account. The ex-Cobh contingent at United has declined of late but Ben O’Riordan and Stephen Christopher remain as familiar faces, while goalkeeper Corey Chambers also recently joined their ranks.
Ramblers remain without the injured James O’Leary but Mikie Rowe and Wilson Waweru are eligible again having missed last week’s trip to Galway.
Cobh boss Shane Keegan gave his thoughts on the game earlier this week,
“During pre-season we headed off to Fota Island for a day of team bonding and planning our season. At the time we looked at Treaty as an example of what we wanted to achieve. To bring the most out of your budget, to be more than the sum of your parts, and to become a side that gives every last ounce in every game they play. I think that we’ve managed to achieve a lot of that this season. Treaty showed in their first two seasons that it can be done, and inspired us. Given their recent run of form they are back in the play-off picture this year again. It would be fantastic to see both clubs in there at the end of the season.
Last weekend was tough against a fantastic Galway side. They are absolutely relentless. We did really well for an hour, scored our best team goal of the season, but they ground you down and are a brilliant side. They’ll give Dundalk a real rattle in the FAI Cup. Five of our last eight games now are at home and we need to make St Colman’s Park a fortress. We need the supporters to play their part in that. Every single point along the way will be unbelievably fought for but that’s what we have to do. We’ve got to show confidence in ourselves, embrace that pressure and show we are here for a reason. There’ll be ups and downs but we have a firm belief that we can do enough to reach those play-offs.”
Both sides have play-off dependent reasons for targeting points and it’ll make for a true battle as we head into the business end of the First Division. Kick-off is at 19:45, and the game will be streamed live on LOITV.
