- Éanna Mackey
- Sat, Feb 17 2024
A Thomas Considine double was enough to put Cobh Ramblers to the sword in a 3-1 defeat to Treaty United on the opening night of the League of Ireland season.
Gary Hunt's men struggled to get into the game and had very limited chances on goal throughout. In contrast, the Limerick side dominated affairs, piling on early pressure with Ramblers seemingly unable to cope with the pace and power of their wide men.
Treaty's continued early pressure paid off with a fortuitous own goal through an unfortunate flick-on by Cobh defender Brendan Frahill. He sliced his header, with the ball hitting the side of the Ramblers goalpost, putting the home side ahead in the twentieth minute.
The Rams continued to be hemmed in, unable to pose much of a threat for much of the first half, with Treaty defending aggressively and attacking with pace and numbers.
The Cobh backline looked stretched with Devitt Molloy, Armshaw, and Considine causing Cobh huge trouble, sauntering forward in numbers with relative ease, with good chances falling to Considine and Curran.
Treaty United continued their confident start into the second half, with Considine blazing wide just after the restart, with another chance falling to Devitt Molloy.
Ramblers then equalised with a swift counterattack. Matthew McKevitt's powerful header beat Chambers in the Treaty goal to the delight of their small traveling contingent.
The home side then retook the lead in the fifty-seventh minute when Considine curled a ranged shot into the bottom corner.
Jason Abbott forced a good save from Chambers in the Treaty goal from a free kick, but the resulting corner was easily dealt with by the Shannonsiders.
Ramblers worked hard to get back into the game, with Dale Holland having some joy on the left flank. A big opportunity fell to Cobh in the eightieth minute as the ball bobbled around the goalmouth from a corner. However, the shot was scuffed wide by Bosnjak.
Thomas Considine grabbed his second of the evening and wrapped up proceedings in the eighty-fifth minute. He picked up the ball on the edge of the box before beating his man and the Cobh goalkeeper with a tidy finish into the bottom corner.
A gilt-edged chance fell to Holland in the ninetieth minute, but it wasn’t to be in front of a bumper crowd of 1,926 on Shannonside.
After a challenging off-season for the Rams, there’s a lot of work to be done ahead of the visit of Athlone Town to St. Colman’s Park next Friday. The Town were comfortable 3-0 winners over Wexford on the opening night.
Treaty United: Corey Chambers, Robbie Lynch, Ben O’riordan, Scott Kirkland (Alec Byrne 78’), Oisín O’Reilly, Thomas Considine (Adam O’Halloran 89’), Willie Armshaw (Finn Doherty 66’), Lee Devitt Molloy, Colin Conroy, Enda Curran.
Subs: Finn Doherty, Alec Byrne, Adam O’Halloran, Michael Dike, Conor Carew, Leon Kirrane, Sean Costelloe, Mark O’Halloran , Mark Murphy.
Subs not used: Michael Dike, Conor Carew, Leon Kirrane, Sean Costelloe, Mark O’Halloran, Mark Murphy.
Cobh Ramblers: Darragh Burke, Cian Browne (James O’Leary 76’), Justin Equaibor, Brendan Frahill, Michael McCarthy (Nolan Evers 84’), Liam Kervick (Beineon Whitmarsh 57’), Jason Abbott, Dean Larkin, Dale Holland, Jack Larkin, Matthew McKevitt (David Bosnjak 76’).
Subs: Beinoen Whitmarsh, David Bosnjak, James O’Leary, Nolan Evers, Cathal O’Hanlon, Dan McKay, Charlie O’Brien, Alessandro De Sanctis, Pierce Phillips.
Subs not used: Cathal O’Hanlon, Dan McKay, Charlie O’Brien, Alessandro De Sanctis, Pierce Phillips.
Bookings: Cian Browne (9’), Liam Kervick (25’)
Attendance: 1,926
Extratime Man of the Match: Thomas Considine.
Referee: Ray Matthews
