Cork City eye 23-point lead as Treaty United test awaits at Markets Field

A trip to Markets Field awaits First Division league leaders Cork City this evening (7.45pm), as they face Tommy Barrett’s ninth-placed side.

The Leesiders have more than double the Limerick club’s points haul after 27 games, and should they win this evening, they could potentially stretch their lead at the top of the table to 23 points, one short of the 24 they need to mathematically seal the title and secure promotion back to the Premier Division.

Barry Robson’s men went into the week break off the back of a 3-1 win over Kerry FC, where they came from behind to hit three late goals and secure a third win on the spin. Treaty United, in contrast, suffered their third defeat in five across all competitions with a 2-0 away loss to Cobh Ramblers.

Still, they've been in decent league form – four wins from their last six outings, more than they managed across the first 21 games of the season.

Darren Nwankwo and Robbie Lynch have impressed across the season for tonight’s hosts, while Cian Curtis has been their most influential forward so far, scoring nine goals and assisting three to date.

Outside of Curtis though, they’ve struggled to find much attacking output. Ben Feeney is their next highest scorer with three goals, while Cork City have two men – Ruairí Keating and Hans Mpongo – in double digits, with Seani Maguire next in line with nine goals.

The three forwards have posed a real threat to every team in the division when fit, while Cillian Murphy has scored five goals and added nine assists.

Treaty remain without a competitive win over Cork City since 2022, while the Rebel Army have claimed victory in all three of their league meetings this season, without the concession of a goal. The last outing was the most convincing victory of the three, City netting four second-half goals through Murphy, Mpongo (2) and Keating. Not since a 1-1 draw in October 2024 have United netted a goal against the Leesiders.

City will be overwhelming favourites once again, but Treaty’s form suggests this will be their toughest of the four meetings.

City’s injury woes have lessened in recent weeks, with Seani Maguire returning to the fold after a spell on the sidelines the key highlight. However, the greatest concern will be the fact that their summer window only brought the arrival of two new faces – neither of whom have featured yet – and the loss of young defender Donal O’Connor.

Chris N’Sa and Joe Aidoo were brought in but haven’t featured on the bench – let alone on the pitch – in a competitive match yet. N’Sa has been prevented from playing as a result of delays with the Canadian’s work permit, but Aidoo is cleared to play following his arrival from Saudi side Al-Sharq.

The fact that City are so close to wrapping up the title is of course a huge positive, but it’s clear that the squad in its current shape will not be enough next season, especially given how small it is.

The extension of Conor Drinan’s contract – announced last week – can only be viewed as a positive given his excellent displays to date this season. He’s been influential as wing-back this year and has chipped in with an impressive five goals and two assists.

Alongside Drinan, veteran midfielder Greg Bolger has rarely put a foot wrong and Darragh Crowley has been superb both in and out of possession, but again, it raises the question of what City will look like next season.

Several areas of the pitch have little to no cover, and that fact is precisely what played into their eventual relegation from the Premier Division last season. The sooner they can secure the title, the sooner they can think about next year; but a considerable number of quality signings will be required to break the yo-yoing pattern they’ve been forced to endure so far in the 2020s.

With Dermot Usher’s ownership repeatedly called into question by fans across this season – despite its success so far – the club needs a big window in the off season.