Treaty Move 6 Points Clear in Play-off Race Following Cobh Win

Treaty United extended their lead in the race for the final play-off place to 6 points with a huge 1-0 victory over Cobh Ramblers at the Markets Field on Friday night. A solitary second half goal from leading scorer Enda Curran ensured that Treaty extended the gap between themselves and Wexford.

Treaty made several changes to the team which defeated Maynooth University Town with Jack Brady, Ben O’Riordan, Marc Ludden and Willie Armshaw coming into the starting 11 in place of Conor Winn, Conor Melody, Darren and Joe Collins. Tommy Barrettt opted to start with a 4-3-3 type formation with Mark Walsh playing as the defensive midfielder behind Lee Devitt and Steven Christopher while Enda Curran led the line with Dean George and Willie Armshaw on the right and left flank.

There were plenty of connections going into the game with former Treaty Academy lead Shane Keegan and former Treaty player Charlie Fleming in the Cobh camp while Ben O’Riordan lined out for the Limerick side having recently lined out for Cobh for several seasons.

In a lacklustre opening half of few chances, it was Treaty who created the first opening but Brendan Frahill managed to block Curran’s shot after Steven Christopher had won possession and fed his teammate. On the half hour mark, Willie Armshaw’s thunderous drive from distance travelled over.

The visitors had a huge chance to take the lead as imposing centre-back Harlain Mbayo headed a Pierce Phillips corner back across goal and midfielder Sean McGrath’s effort was deflected onto the crossbar and subsequently cleared. Just before referee Mark Moynihan blew the half-time whistle, Armshaw’s cross was headed wide by Curran.

In the opening stages of the second half, both sides traded shots through Lee Devitt and Conor Drinan but neither seriously troubled the goalmouth. On the hour mark, the home side earned the breakthrough in style as Armshaw flicked the ball into the path of the overlapping Ben O’Riordan and the full-back beat Darren O’Sullivan-Connell twice before picking out Curran with a low pass and the former Galway striker finished brilliantly into the net with a low drive to send the home crowd into raptures.

Cobh centre-back Mbayo was sent off in the final ten minutes for a foul on substitute Success Edogun and as he was already booked, referee Moynihan gave him his marching orders. Shane Keegan introduced both Danny O’Connell and Beineon O’Brien-Whitmarsh in an attempt to get an unlikely equaliser but Treaty were comfortable in defence for the final 10 minutes to cap off a great week.

Treaty will host Bray Wanderers next Friday night as their drive to the play-offs continues. The club will also finalise details for the Extra.ie cup quarter-final tie against UCD at the Markets Field which is due to take place on the weekend ending September 18th.

Treaty United: Jack Brady, Ben O’Riordan, Sean Guerins, Callum McNamara, Marc Ludden, Mark Walsh, Lee Devitt, Steven Christopher, Willie Armshaw (Conor Melody 77), Dean George (Joe Collins 83), Enda Curran (Success Edogun 74)

Cobh Ramblers: Paul Hunt, Charlie Fleming, Harlain Mbayo, Brendan Frahill, Darren O’Sullivan-Connell, Jason Abbott (Danny O’Connell 81), Pierce Phillips (Dale Holland H/T), Sean McGrath (Beineon O’Brien-Whitmarsh 81), James O’Leary (Liam Kevrick 68), Conor Drinan (Luke Desmond 68), Jake Hegarty