Treaty United bow out of FAI Cup at hands of Cork City

TREATY United’s FAI Cup dreams came to an end in the Markets Field on Saturday afternoon as two second half goals from their Munster rivals, Cork City, were enough to overcome Tommy Barrett’s side.

Treaty held their own in the opening half against their lacklustre Premier Division opponents, and, in truth, it was Tommy Barrett’s men who had the better of the chances and will probably be disappointed with it only being 0-0 at the break.

It however took the Leesiders just nine minutes to open the scoring after the restart when Cork defender Joshua Honohan rose highest to head into the back of the net, before Babatunde Owolabi doubled the visitors lead 13 minutes from time – a 2-0 lead Liam Buckley’s side held until the final whistle.

Coming into this FAI Cup tie, Treaty made three changes to their 3-2 away defeat of Kerry two weeks ago with Conor Winn coming in for departed goalkeeper Shane Hallahan and Jordan Tallon and Mark Walsh replacing Andy Spain and Colin Conroy respectively.

It was just the eight meeting between these two sides and Munster rivals Cork now hold the bragging rights of having defeated Treaty four times, compared to three wins for the Markets Field side.

After a cautious opening twenty minutes, it was Cork who averted early disaster when Leeside goalkeeper Jimmy Corcoran superbly saved a Dean George cross that had deflected off former Limerick FC player Cian Coleman to somehow deny Treaty a certain goal.

Treaty’s best chance of the afternoon game just after the half hour mark. William Armshaw dispossessed Cork midfielder Rokas Stanulevičius before twisting and turning a sketched Cork defence. Armshaw eventually found space before striking from 25-yards out. Cork 'keeper Corcoran breathed a sigh of relief when the Tipperary native’s rasping effort struck the crossbar and went over for a goal kick.

Minutes later, it was Cork who nearly opened the scoring, but Treaty goalkeeper Conor Winn got low to superbly take the ball from the feet of City striker Babatunde Owolabi who had broken through the Treaty defence line.

After Winn’s two footed save denied Owolabi, Barry Coffey’s rebounded effort was cleared off the line by Mark Walsh.

After a sustained period of pressure from Cork after the restart, Liam Buckley’s charges eventually found the key to open the Treaty defence.

Towering right back Joshua Honohan climbed highest to head a curling corner from Coffey into the back of the Treaty net.

Cork upped the tempo from here on in and with less than 14 minutes left on the clock, Owolabi, who took full advantage of an excellent pass from Coffey, doubled the visitor’s lead after he shot low past Winn to find the back of the net.

Treaty were reduced to 10 men later on when Darren Nwankwo saw red in injury time. Barrett’s men now face an away trip to Ferrycarrig Park to take on fellow promotion hopefuls Wexford FC next Friday evening, while Cork City advance to the second round of the FAI Cup.

TREATY UNITED: Conor Winn; Ben O’Riordan, Mark Walsh, Darren Nwankwo, Marc Ludden (capt.); Lee Devitt, Jordan Tallon; Willie Armshaw, Stephen Christopher, Dean George; Enda Curran. Subs: Colin Kelly for Armshaw, Colin Conroy for Tallon (both 60 minutes), Fionn Doherty for Curran, Scott Kirkland for George (both 81 minutes)

CORK CITY: Jimmy Corcoran; Joshua Honohan, Cian Coleman, Alexander Gilchrist, Conor Drinan; Barry Coffey, Kevin Čustović, Joe O’Brien Whitmarsh, Rokas Stanulevičius, Cian Bargary; Babatunde Owolabi. Subs: Aaron Bolger for Stanulevičius (68 minutes), Daniel Krezic for Coffey, John O’Donovan for Gilchrist (82 minutes), Oran Crowe for Čustović (90 minutes)

REFEREE: Damien McGrath (Mayo)