Treaty United score vital win over Finn Harps to keep play-off dream alive

PROMOTION hopefuls Treaty United kept alive their dreams of reaching their third promotion play-off in-a-row thanks to their third league win on the trot when they overcame Donegal visitors Finn Harps with two goals to spare at the Markets Field on Friday evening.

On what was an unseasonably warm October evening in Garryowen, Tommy Barrett’s charges had the better of the first half chances, but went in at the break level at 0-0, before a Marc Ludden penalty five minutes after the restart and a Dean George headed goal after the hour mark secured a vital three points on Shannonside.

The resilient Garryowen outfit are now just two points behind fifth-place Athlone Town, who occupy the final promotion play-off place, after the Westmeath side suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Bray Wanderers.

Treaty, who named an unchanged side to the starting XI that defeated Longford 3-2 the previous Saturday, looked most likely to score early on, but Success Edogun could only watch on when his blistering effort from the edge of the box sailed over the bar after just four minutes. With Adam Lennon waiting in space, the Harps’ defence could count themselves lucky they weren’t a goal down so early on.

Less than four minutes later, lively Treaty winger Dean George pounced on a mistake from Harps’ right back Jamie Watson, but in similar fashion to Edogun, his effort whistled over the bar.

Real goal chances were few and far between then and the half-time whistle, but when Watson returned the favour and dispossessed George before squaring the ball to Ryan Flood, the deadlock was almost broken just three minutes before the break. However, the American defender’s rasping shot sailed inches over the bar.

Just five minutes after the restart, Treaty captain Marc Ludden scored his second penalty in as many home games after BJ Banda was adjudged by referee Alan Patchell to have fouled Adam Lennon after Ludden himself had played a long throw into the box.

Treaty had the three points sealed just 12 minutes later when George found the net with a close-range header after a superbly taken corner. The Blue Army were in full voice now.

In what was a perfect evening, results wise, for Treaty, Bray’s win against Athlone in Lissywollen mean there are now just two points between the two sides.  

In truth, Treaty have the tougher remaining games with champions Galway United set to come to Limerick next Saturday before an away trip to second-placed Waterford, but Tommy Barrett’s in-form side will take huge confidence from Athlone’s form in their final push for promotion.

Treaty United: Corey Chambers; Ben O’Riordan, Sean Guerins, Mark Walsh, Marc Ludden (capt.); Lee Devitt; Adam Lennon, Conor Barry, Stephen Christopher, Dean George; Success Edogun. Subs: Willie Armshaw for Lennon (76 minutes), Dean O’Shea for Edogun (82 minutes), Scott Kirkland for Devitt (87 minutes).

Finn Harps:  Antonio Tuta; Jamie Watson, Noe Baba, Matty Makinson, Kevin Jordan; Ryan Rainey (capt), Tony McNamee; Aaron McLaughlin, Ryan Flood, BJ Banda; Patrick Ferry Subs: Max Johnston for Banda, Max Hutchison for Ferry (both 62 minutes), Stephen Doherty for Rainey (70 minutes), Seamus Keogh for Jordan, Caoimhin Porter for McLaughlin (both 90 minutes).

Referee: Alan Patchell (Dublin)