Treaty United strike late to salvage dramatic point against Kerry FC in First Division

EVAN O’Connor’s strike deep into stoppage time saw Treaty United salvage a 1-1 draw at home to Kerry FC in their SSE Airtricity League First Division fixture at the Markets Field on Friday night.

Treaty United’s winless run in the league has extended to three matches and the eighth-placed hosts are 11 points off the promotion play-off positions.

Treaty goalkeeper Corey Chambers was called into action just 42 seconds into Friday night's Munster derby. Chambers parried Valerii Dolia’s powerful 20-yard-shot out of play for a corner kick.

Dolia was involved again as Kerry had another chance on 17 minutes; this time his 20-yard free-kick was easily dealt with by Chambers.

Visitors Kerry, who are second-from-bottom in the First Division table, continued causing Treaty problems throughout the half.

Ronan Teehan could’ve broken the deadlock on 29 minutes. The midfielder out-manoeuvred Steven Healy and Mark Walsh before shooting straight at Chambers from inside the box.

Treaty were second best for much of the opening period, but did manage to carve out two chances in as many minutes of first-half stoppage time.

Firstly, Enda Curran tried to catch Tuta off his line from 35 yards out and then 60 seconds later, Trpimir Vrljičak missed the target with a curling shot.

The home side almost broke the deadlock on 56 minutes. However, Stephen Christopher’s shot was deflected out of play by Oran Crowe.

Kerry went 1-0 up two minutes later. Sean McGrath fired home from an acute angle after skillfully evading challenges from Steven Healy and Mark Walsh.

The visitors now had a spring in their step. Three minutes later, Dolia hit the side netting from inside the box.

Tuta kept Kerry’s lead in tact on 81 minutes. Sean Costelloe found a pocket of space inside the box only to be denied by the onrushing Kerry goalkeeper.

Treaty edged even closer four minutes into injury time. Christopher Horgan’s long throw was deflected into the path of Thomas Considine, but the winger’s header trickled narrowly wide.

Considine injured himself in the process and came off injured. A dramatic finish followed as Treaty snatched a draw in dramatic fashion 11 minutes into stoppage time.

Robbie Lynch collected Christopher Horgan’s free-kick and shot straight at Tuta, but Evan O’Connor was on hand to fire home the rebound.

Treaty United: Corey Chambers; Christopher Horgan, Ben O'Riordan, Mark Walsh (Evan O’Connor 79), Fionn Doherty; Steven Healy (Adam O’Halloran 65); Alec Byrne; Lee Devitt (Richkov Boevi 90 + 7), Stephen Christopher (Sean Costelloe 65), Trpimir Vrljičak (Thomas Considine 65, Robbie Lynch 90 + 7); Enda Curran (David Tarmey 46)

Kerry FC: Antonio Tuta; Cian Barrett, Ethan Kos, Andrew Spain, Sean O’Connell; Oran Crowe (Cian Brosnan 90 + 1); Okwuy Okwute (Nathan Gleeson 61) , Ronan Teahan, Sean McGrath (Samuel Aladesanusi 90 + 1),Valerii Dolia (Finn Barrett 90 + 1); Ryan Kelliher (Victor Udeze 80).

Referee: Glen Geraghty