Treaty United's FAI Cup shoot-out hero Michael Dike 'has big future in the game'

AFTER a frustrating evening, Treaty United manager Tommy Barrett looked a relieved man to have safely seen his side advance to the next round of the Sports Direct FAI Cup following a penalty shoot-out victory over non-league Kilbarrack United on Friday.

It took extra time and penalties for Treaty to get over the line at the Markets Field and book a last 16 spot. Treaty and Leinster Senior League side Kilbarrack remained 0-0 after extra time with the tie decided in a dramatic shoot-out.

Seventeen-year-old Treaty United goalkeeper Michael Dike, who previously played with Caherdavin Celtic and Limerick FC, proved the hero for the home side saving two of the Kilbarrack penalties.

Afterwards Treaty United manager Tommy Barrett said: “Look we’re in the hat and that’s what matters. We had plenty of chances to score but at the same time we could have lost it too.

“Kilbarrack had a good shape to them and they stuck to their task. They probably feel unlucky that they didn’t get the win because in the second half, they had the better chances.”

Young goalkeeper Dike, who has been attracting cross-channel interest, was the shoot-out hero as Treaty advanced to the third round of the competition. The draw for the last 16 stage takes place this coming week.

Tommy Barrett said: “Michael has great potential, we rate him very highly and we think that he’ll be a really good keeper. He’s someone who would benefit from a full-time environment and he has a big future in the game."

Barrett and Treaty will now reflect and await their Round Three opponents in the midweek draw but will turn their attention to the visit of promotion play-off-chasing Finn Harps to the Markets Field in the SSE Airtricity League First Division on Friday evening, 7.45pm.

“Obviously we want a home tie in the next round of the Cup, but if we play like we did tonight we won’t have a chance.

“We’ve got Harps now next week and that will be a difficult game, they’re a good side who are in the play-offs for a reason. They’re solid at the back and they know how to grind out results so it's going to be a difficult one for us.”

Treaty sit eighth in the First Division table, nine points behind Friday's opponents Finn Harps.