Treaty United suffer narrow league defeat at Finn Harps

TREATY United's winless run in the SSE Airtricity League First Division has been extended to nine games on the back of their 1-0 defeat to Finn Harps at Finn Park in Ballybofey on Friday night.

Tony McNamee fired Harps back to winning ways and consigned visitors Treaty United to defeat. The Harps captain netted the only goal in the 80th minute to give the home side all three points

McNamee's goal – his fourth of the season – stopped a mini rot for Harps with this their first win in four.

Earlier in the season, the Ramelton man also grabbed a late winner against Treaty at Markets Field ending Tommy Barrett's side's unbeaten start to the season.

The winner was out of the route one play book: Goalkeeper Tim Hiemer punted long and Sean O'Donnell flicked into the path of McNamee.

The 30-year-old was the picture of cool as he delightfully slipped the ball into the bottom corner - sealing a win that puts Harps third in the First Division standings.

Treaty United must dust themselves down quickly after this defeat as Athlone Town visit the Markets Field on Bank Holiday Monday for a crucial league fixture which has a 5pm kick-off time. 

Harps went close to an early opener against Treaty when Mbuli beat Oisin O'Reilly in a race for possession on the edge of the Treaty penalty area after taking a pass from McNamee.

Mbuli seemed well poised, but fired low and wide of the far post.

Half-an-hour in and Harps fashioned a second opening. Mbuli made the initial break down the left and, after Johnston's shot was blocked, Cawley saw his low follow-up, which momentarily looked bound for the bottom corner, deflected wide.

Noe Baba let fly in the 62nd minute, but a firmly-struck first-time effort from 20 yards was well held by Chambers.

Less than a minute later, Treaty had their first purposeful attempt, but Lee Devitt volleyed wide, although home 'keeper Hiemer was well placed in any event.

Tommy Barrett's Treaty began 2024 like an express train, winning the opening three games of the season, before they were derailed somewhat thereafter, not helped by injuries to a number of key squad members.

Treaty arrived in Ballybofey having taken only three draws from the previous eight outings. Barrett made just one change from the side that lost to UCD as Alec Byrne came in to replace Leon Kirrane.

Success Edogun, who netted seven times for the Shannonsiders last season, was denied by a brave block by a Treaty defender, before Matthew Makinson prodded wide at close range with Harps starting to turn the screw.

As the game entered its final ten minutes, McNamee popped up with the goods.

Finn Harps: Tim Hiemer; Jamie Watson, Noe Baba, Matthew Makinson, Luke O'Brien; David Cawley (Darragh Coyle 85), Tony McNamee; Success Edogun (Patrick Ferry 88), Ryan Rainey, Mark Mbuli (Sean O'Donnell 65); Max Johnston.

Treaty United: Corey Chambers; Robbie Lynch (Evan O'Connor 74), Ben O'Riordan, Mark Walsh, Oisin O'Reilly; Lee Devitt, Scott Kirkland (Richkov Boevi 89); Alec Byrne, Stephen Christopher, Mark Byrne (Nikodem Kozlowski 89); Thomas Considine.

Referee: Oliver Moran.