A dramatic end in the Munster FA Turner’s Cross Stadium as fan favourite Ruairí Keating secured opening day victory for the Rebel Army.
Cork City went into game, coming off the back of a successful pre-season under Barry Robson, who was appointed half-way through the Leesiders off-season.
Cork City opted to utilise fire power in the centre of the attack, Seani Maguire, Ruairí Keating and new signing Hans Mpongo were all included in the Starting XI. Josh Fitzpatrick and Conor Drinan also started the game as wing-backs, definitely with the intention to attack.
Treaty United on the other hand had a topsy-turvy pre-season, campaign beating a Premier Division outfit in Sligo Rovers and also losing to an amateur team in the first round of the Munster Senior Cup.
Treaty United chose to lineup in a 4-4-2 shape, with a strike partnership of Ben Feeney and Cian Curtis leading the line. Many new signings featured throughout including Cian Curtis, Steven Healy, Raphael Ohin and Jack Brady all making their LOI debuts for the Limerick side.
The game started off very end-to-end with no team having a clear grasp or control of the game, something City will be disappointed about considering they’re squad.
The first big chance of the game fell in the 6th minute when a long ball was horribly miscontrolled by Josh Fitzpatrick this allowed Ben Feeney to bring the ball forward, getting a shot off, but hitting it straight at Brann.
City were looking to hit Treaty on the counter-attack when possible. Hans Mpongo’s pace and direct nature being key to this.
City’s first big opportunity was presented in the 17th minute when, Josh Fitzpatrick beautifully beat his man and got a whipped cross into the back post, Hans Mpongo merely missed it and left a big chance go for the Rebel Army.
Ben Feeney will be kicking himself after the first half as he let two other big chances go untested to Conor Brann.
KBD Photos
Cork City’s new complex fluid system looked interesting, but lacked that control of the game in general.
The second half saw fortunes change for City, creating a lot more chances and causing all parts of the Treaty set-up problems. However these chances only exposed City’s lack of clinical finishing when it mattered.
Treaty sat a lot deeper and compact and did not create near enough chances as they did in the first-half.
City however finally broke the deadlock, in stoppage time Hans Mpongo squared the ball to Ruairí Keating who’s shot hit the post, but fortunately the ball hit off Jack Brady and hit back of the net, sealing the win for Barry Robson’s side.
City will be delighted with the three points but, the lack of clinical finishing in the final third may be a cause for concern
Treaty on the other hand will be proud of their efforts, chance creation and ability to contain the big side that is Cork City. A draw was probably a fair result in the grand scheme of things.
Man of the match: It was hard to look past Hans Mpongo, the striker constantly drifted wide onto the left and his skill and directness was key to City’s attacking efforts, wrapping up his great performance in the end with an assist for the winner.
Cork City(3-4-1-2): Conor Brann, Rory Feely, Fiacre Kelleher, Charlie Lyons, Josh Fitzpatrick, Greg Bolger, Darragh Crowley, Conor Drinan, Sean Maguire, Ruairí Keating, Hans Mpongo Subs: Cillian Murphy for Conor Drinan (60′), Matthew Murray for Rory Feely (79′), Matthew Kiernan for Hans Mpongo (90+2′)
Treaty United(4-4-2): Jack Brady, Robbie Lynch, Mark Walsh, Darren Nwankwo, Ben Lynch, Mark Murphy, Raphael Ohin, Steven Healy, Ben Feeney, Cian Curtis Subs: Brian Cummingham for Roy Lawlor(65′), Jason Oyenuga for Cian Curtis(81′).