Disappointing Treaty United exit FAI Cup at quarter-final stage

DISAPPOINTING Treaty United saw their Sports Direct FAI Cup campaign ended resoundingly as they were convincingly beaten 4-1 by Wexford FC in their quarter-final fixture at Ferrycarrig Park on Friday evening.

On an historic night for Wexford with plans for a new stadium announced before kick-off, a first-half double brace from Isamala Divin and Thomas Oluwa saw the Youths ease past their First Division rivals in front of an attendance of 1,063.

Meanwhile, Treaty United's dream of a second FAI Cup semi-final appearance in three years was abruptly ended in a game that they never managed to get into.

Wexford, who sit 13 points ahead of Treaty in the First Division table, made an emphatic start to the game putting the visitors under considerable early pressure and hitting the crossbar in just the second minute.

Just five minutes in, the Treaty defence was breached for the first time when Divin got on the end of a looping cross to power his header to the roof of the net to give the home side the lead.

Things went from bad to worse three minutes later for the visitors when Oluwa latched onto the end of a long ball before being felled by Treaty goalkeeper Corey Chambers inside the box.

Chambers receive a booking as Oluwa stepped up to convert, giving Wexford a dream start and the Markets Field side a mountain to climb.

In a desperate opening quarter, Treaty lost both Lee Devitt and Fionn Doherty to injury minutes apart, who have been key players for the side all season.

The game was then ended as a contest in the 22nd minute as Divin netted his second and Wexford’s third following a dangerous in-swinging corner.

Divin pounced onto the loose ball and buried his shot beyond the helpless Chambers to make it 3-0. A disastrous first half was ended as it began when on the stroke of half-time as Wexford scored their fourth.

More poor defending saw a low cross find the unmarked Oluwa who unleashed a low powerful shot into the bottom corner, ending the first-half rout and securing his brace.

Treaty made a bright start to the second half with substitutes Colin Conroy and Steven Healy combining to force a good save from Conor Walsh. However, that positivity was immediately undone as talisman Enda Curran was stretchered off immediately after following a collision during the build-up.

In a second-half without much action, Treaty scored a late consolation goal through substitute Trpimir Vrljičak in the 89th minute. The centre forward rebounded his blocked shot to the back of the net having been played through by Yoyo Mahdy.

Treaty United will now turn their attention back to the SSE Airtricity League First Division where Tommy Barrett’s men will hope to end a disappointing season on a high.

They return to action next week at home to Athlone Town.

Meanwhile, Wexford will look forward to an FAI Cup semi-final while they hope to consolidate their place in the promotion play-off spots mid-week as they take on rivals Bray Wanderers.

Treaty United: Corey Chambers, Ben O’Riordan (Richkov Boevi 78), Lee Devitt (Yoyo Mahdy 32), Evan O’Connor, Mark Walsh, Fionn Doherty (Oisín O’Reilly 26), Lee Lynch, Alec Byrne (Steven Healy 46), Enda Curran (Trpimir Vrljičak 54), Christopher Horgan (Colin Conroy 46), Robbie Lynch.

Wexford FC: Conor Walsh, Darragh Levingston, Cian O’Malley, Divin Isamala, Kian Corbally (Kaylem Harnett 79), Thomas Oluwa, Aaron Dobbs (Cian Curtis 79), Luka Lovic (Conor Crowley 60), Lewis Temple, Sean McHale (Ben Lynch 60), Reece Webb.

Referee: Gavin Colfer.