Nenagh derby on opening night in the League of Ireland

It will be a meeting of former Nenagh Celtic and AFC players this Friday night on the opening night of the Airtricity League of Ireland first division Treaty United welcome Cobh Ramblers to the Markets Field, Limerick.

By Gary Culbert

It will be a meeting of former Nenagh Celtic and AFC players this Friday night on the opening night of the Airtricity League of Ireland first division Treaty United welcome Cobh Ramblers to the Markets Field, Limerick.

Former Nenagh AFC youth Barry Coffey officially got his Cobh Ramblers career underway two weeks ago with a short trip to Cobh Wanderers to mark the official opening of their neighbour’s new grass pitch, scoring on his debut.

Last weekend, Coffey came face to face with his old team Cork City in the quarter final of the Munster Senior Cup, where he played 67 minutes before making way for substitute David Bosnjak, whose brace inside the closing five minutes sealed a sweet 2-1 victory for Cobh over their Premier Division neighbours.

Treaty United bowed out of the Munster Senior Cup on Friday night, losing 4-2 away to Premier Division side Waterford.

Former Nenagh Celtic clubman Mark Walsh captained the side but there was no room for former Celtic Cian Carmody or Nenagh AFC youth Nikodem Kozlowski in the matchday squad, which head coach Tommy Barrett had help with from Nenagh natives Dave Rooney and Oisin Fitzpatrick in his coaching team.

Despite the two sides respective pre-season form, Treaty United are the bookies favourites for the clash this Friday night.

Perhaps they are expecting history to repeat itself – last season 2000 people were in the Markets Field to see Treaty win 3-1 at home to Cobh on the opening day of the season.

Kick-off is 7.45pm in Markets Field with tickets available at the gate.

Tickets are cheaper online however, with general admission tickets available for €14, student and over 65’s - €10, while kids aged 11 and under can enter for just €5.