Treaty United picked up their first point of the season thanks to a late Cian Curtis penalty.
Treaty United 2
Kerry FC 2
There was little positivity from either team going into a first Markets Filed Munster Derby of the 2026 campaign . Both Treaty and Kerry respectively had poor starts to the season, both in search of a first league win.
Collin Healy’s side started the better of the two. Cian Murphy cleverly flicked the ball over the head of the Treaty defender to find Luke Palmer, who was abrubtly taken out of it by Mark Walsh.
The 32-year-old was booked in just the second minute of the match, though it may have been the right decision as a promising attack was stopped and the Kingdom’s free-kick led to nothing.
Treaty grew into the match but it was still Kerry who looked more dangerous. Vincent Borden effortlessly carried the ball into the Treaty box before driving a low cross that was inches away from the boot of Palmer, who could’ve tapped the ball into an empty net.
Kerry would finally make it count, Finn Barrett’s set piece from distance perfectly found Ewan Lee. The 23-year-old had time and space to pick his spot and smash the ball past Jack Brady to give the away side the lead.
Ewan Lee gives Kerry the lead in the Munster derby in Limerick! pic.twitter.com/lNtMRB5nCw
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) March 6, 2026
The home team responded well creating a handful of chances. Florian Oyenuga was through on goal but failed to get a shot off against the onrushing Harry Halliwax, which earned some halfhearted claims for a penalty from The Blue Army.
Halliwax would be called into to action again, this time to deny Darren Nwanko from close range. As Treaty began to apply more pressure towards the backend of the half, Halliwax went down with an “injury”, giving Healy a chance to have a discussion with his ten outfield players.
Seconds into the second-half Treaty came as close as they’d been to an equaliser, Ben Feeney rattling Halliwax’s near post.
It wasn’t long until Kerry began to cause problems again, Finn Barrett looked dangerous down the right flank but no clearcut chance was created.
The moment Treaty had been waiting for finally came, Kerry failed to clear a cross, with the ball falling perfectly to Cian Curtis. The former Bray Wanderers player struck it first time, slotting it into the bottom right corner.
It didn’t take long for Kerry to respond, substitute Eric Koufie beat Darren Nwanko to the ball inside the box, the Shamrock Rovers loane felt contact from the defender and hit the ground, giving Daniel Murphy the easy decision of pointing to the spot.
Cian Murphy stepped up to the spot and sent Brady the wrong way, to score his first goal for his new club and to put them back in the lead.
Kerry invited pressure hoping to hold onto the lead, it was now they’re turn for a defensive lapse in judgment as Niall Brookwell tripped a Treaty forward and for the second time Daniel Murphy pointed to the spot.
Cian Curtis sent Halliwax the wrong way, to eqaulise in the 90th minute.
It wasn’t over yet, Robbie Lynch fired a ball into the box that found the head of Nwanko, with his effort going narrowly wide.
The fulltime whistle was blown, the sides would share the points in an action packed Munster Derby at the Markets Field.
Kerry FC will stay on the road as they face Wexford FC in Ferrycaring Park next Friday night, while Treaty United make the trip to Ballybofey to take on Finn Harps.
Man of the Match: Cian Curtis bagged a brace for his side and was ultimatley the reason they picked up they’re first point of the 2026 season.
Treaty United (4-2-3-1): Jack Brady; Robbie Lynch, Mark Walsh, Darren Nwanko, Ben Lynch, Florian Oyenuga, Ben Lee, Raphiel Ohin, Mark Murphy, Cian Curtis, Ben Feeney Subs: Fionn Doherty for Mark Walsh (H/T), Roy Lawlor for Ben Lee (67′), Ronan Manning for Mark Murphy, Jevontae Layne for Ben Feeney, Stephen Healy for Raphiel Ohin (all 74′)
Kerry FC (3-5-2): Harry Halliwax; Ewan Lee, Finn Barrett, Cillian Cantwell, Jonas Häkkinen, Sean O’Connell, Sean McGrath, Niall Brookwell, Vincent Borden, Luke Palmer, Cian Murphy Subs: Eric Koufie for Luke Palmer (62′)
Referee: Daniel Murphy
Attendance: