Treaty suffered a heavy 0-5 home defeat at the hands of Munster rivals Cork City at the Markets Field on Monday night. Surprisingly, Colin Healy’s side took a commanding 0-4 lead into the half time break through goals from Kevin O’Connor, Ruari Keating, Matt Srbely and Aaron Bolger. A goal late in the second half from substitute Cian Bargary put the icing on the cake for the away side.
Treaty came into the game off the back of a very positive 0-0 draw with Galway United on Friday night made three chances with two of those being enforced upon manager Tommy Barrett. Marc Ludden and Enda Curran sat out the game while Matt Keane dropped to the bench with Conor Melody, Colin Conroy and Joel Coustrain replacing the trio in the starting line-up.
Treaty began well but it was Cork who had the first sight of goal when O’Connor’s free-kick was palmed away by Winn, who was playing his third consecutive game in goal. O’Connor was in the thick of the action early on and his cross was headed over by Cian Murphy. However, the league leaders did not have long to wait before taking the lead as Treaty failed to clear a corner and the ball fell to O’Connor who made no mistake with a right footed finish inside the penalty area.
City doubled their lead on the half hour mark as a deep cross from the right was met by the head of Matt Srbely who scored from close range. Just one minute later, Lee Devitt’s shot was blocked and travelled safely into the arms of David Harrington. As half-time approached, Cork extended their lead when Srbely fizzed the ball across the six-yard box box and Keating tapped into an empty net. That wasn’t the final goal of the half as Cork added more misery when Aaron Bolger picked up possession on the edge of the area before curling a shot beyond Winn.
Five minutes into the second period, Treaty created their best chance of the game as Conor Melody turned past his man and his effort went just wide. The Leesiders could have extended their lead further when Doona fizzed the ball across the penalty area but former Limerick FC player Cian Coleman sliced his effort wide.
Treaty created another opportunity when Matt Keane who replaced the injured Joel Coustrain in the first half, rescued the ball at the back post but Jack Lynch’s header was well over the bar. It was at this point that Cork City fans heard of Longford’s 2 goal lead over title rivals Galway United and sent an already boisterous crowd into raptures.
With ten minutes remaining, Treaty conceded a goal which summed up their night when Conor Winn’s poor clearance under pressure from Keating rebounded off Guerins back into the path of the striker who squared the ball for substitute Daragh Crowley to tap into an empty net.
Treaty were also dealt another slight blow in the race for the play-offs with Wexford scoring their second injury time goal in 4 days as they rescued a draw against Bray Wanderers having been 2-0 down. The result means Wexford go into 5th on goal difference. Treaty travel to Cobh on Friday night to take on Cobh Ramblers who will be managed by former Treaty Academy Director Shane Keegan.
Treaty United: Conor Winn, Jack Lynch, Sean Guerins, Callum McNamara, Lee Devitt, Joe Collins (Martin Coughlan 58), Colin Conroy (Darren Nwankwo 76), Steven Christopher, Joel Coustrain (Matt Keane 43), Conor Melody (Scott Kirkland 76), Dean George (Jack Arra 76)
Cork City: David Harrington, Jonas Haikkinen, Josh Honahan, Kevin O’Connor (Ronan Hurley H/T), Cian Bargary (Uniss Kargbo 64), James Doona, Cian Coleman, Matt Srbely, Aaron Bolger (Kieran Coates 64), Cian Murphy (Daragh Crowley H/T), Ruairi Keating