Treaty United suffer home league defeat to Finn Harps

TREATY United suffered their second 3-0 defeat in-a-row at home in the SSE Airtricity League First Division after a clinical and ruthless Finn Harps side secured all three points in a sun-drenched Markets Field on Friday evening.

A first brace from American midfielder Ryan Flood – a well taken penalty and a superb freekick - had the Donegal visitors up 2-0 at the break, before a late second half injury time goal from substitute and debutant Aaron McLaughlin secured the win for the Ballybofey side.

Despite spending more time in the Harps’ half after the restart, Tommy Barrett’s side failed to break down their resilient opponents, coming up short against a robust defence for the second time in seven days.

Sixth-placed Treaty, who were looking to get back to winning ways after suffering a 3-0 defeat last week at home to league leaders Galway United, made three changes with Anthony O’Donnell coming in for the suspended Andy Spain, and Willie Armshaw and Conor Barry replacing and Martin Coughlan and Colin Conroy in the starting XI.

Finn Harps, looking to put an end to four-game losing run, made two changes to their lineup as Brazilian-Norwegian striker Filip Fjeldheim Da Silva and Kevin Jordan returned in place of Caoimhin Porter and the suspended Daithi McCallion.

With just 12 minutes gone, Treaty centre back Darren Nwankwo was adjudged to have brought down Finn Harps winger Sean O’Donnell after the two came together inside the box.

Up stepped Ryan Flood who stuck the resulting penalty into the corner of the net. Shane Hallahan guessed the right way, but Flood’s powerful effort proved too strong for the Treaty goalkeeper.

Treaty responded well and had chances of their own. Willie Armshaw could only watch on three minutes later as his snapshot effort sailed quickly over the bar.

To be fair, Tommy Barrett’s men had control of the game and the penalty did come against the run of play, and the hosts continued to have the better of chances in the aftermath of Harps' opener.

However, Flood doubled his tally nine minutes before halftime with a superb low freekick from just outside of the penalty area to put Harps 2-0 ahead. The freekick had been awarded after Anto O’Donnell fouled his namesake Sean O’Donnell with a lunging challenge on the edge of the box.

Treaty upped the tempo straight away and Enda Curran struck a shot with venom but Harps ‘keeper Hiermer was equal to the curling effort.

On the verge of half-time Harps could have, and should have, had a third goal, but Hallahan did well to come off his line and block Michael Harris’ shot on goal.

Moments before, Flood went in search of his hattrick but his effort on goal was blocked by the Treaty defence with Da Silva’s rebounded effort cleared by Nwankwo.

Treaty came flying out of the traps after the restart, and an excellent Lee Devitt through ball carved open the Harps defence, but Noe Baba did well to clear a Conor Barry cross from inside the six-yard box as Anto O’Donnell waited at the back post.

Minutes later, Nwankwo won the ball after a strong challenge in the middle of the pitch on Da Silva before Devitt came close, but his drilled effort sailed narrowly over the crossbar.

Barrett’s charges had a flurry of chances before the hour mark with Dean George coming close after a close-range pot-shot from Barry was deflected to the path of the Treaty striker.

Harps were far from fluid in their attacking play, but physically strong and organised and functional in their approach it was Dave Rogers side who did well to see out the game , despite Treaty enjoying more time in their opponents half in the second half.

Two minutes from time, Treaty captain Marc Ludden came close with a low drilled freekick, but it drifted narrowly wide of the post to the delight of the travelling Harps support.

A late goal from substitute Aaron McLaughlin, who was only on the pitch 10 minutes and making his debut for the Donegal side eased through a stretched Treaty defence before drilling low past Hallahan to make it 3-0 in favour of the visitors.

Ahead of their trip to second-placed Waterford FC next Friday, Treaty remain just one point behind fifth-placed Athlone Town who occupy the last of the play-off positions.  

Treaty United: Shane Hallahan; Stephen Christopher, Darren Nwankwo, Anthony O’Donnell, Marc Ludden (capt); Conor Barry, Alec Byrne, Lee Devitt, Willie Armshaw; Dean George, Enda Curran. Subs: Colin Conroy for Barry (68 minutes), Colin Kelly for George (73 minutes), Martin Coughlan for Armshaw, Josh Quinlivan for Curran (both 79 minutes).

Finn Harps: Tim-Oliver Hiermer; Seamus Keogh, Noe Baba, Keith Cowan, Shane McMonagle, Kevin Jordan; Katlego Mashigo, Ryan Flood; Michael Harris, Filip Fjeldheim Da Silva, Sean O’Donnell. Subs: Sean O’Kane for Cowan (71 minutes), McLaughlin for O’Donnell (80 minutes), Damian Duffy for Harris (86 minutes).

Referee: Paul Norton