Treaty United fall to disappointing home defeat to Cobh Ramblers

GALWAY United loanee Wilson Waweru, and Jack Doherty, proved to be heroes for Cobh Ramblers as Treaty United’s search for their first win of the season goes on after a disappointing 3-0 defeat at the Markets Field on Friday night.

On on a bitterly cold night in Limerick, Waweru’s controversial second half goal on the hour mark, before Doherty sealed the win with two late goals to go warm the hearts of the brave travelling support in Garryowen, leaves Tommy Barrett’s Treaty United side with just one point from their opening four First Division fixtures.

After a lacklustre opening half, during which both sides recorded just five shots on target between them, this Munster derby finally sparked into life in the second half.

And with Lee Steacy continuing to take command of the Cobh penalty area, Shane Keegan’s charges found the net for the game’s opening goal on the hour mark – Waweru heading home a Issa Kargbo flick before referee Jason Moore quickly brushed off pleas for offside from Treaty players.

Doherty slotted home with 10 minutes to go before the lively Cobh striker grabbed his brace three minutes later to secure all three points for the visitors.

It was Treaty’s fourth attempt of season to record a win, following defeats to Bray and Galway, and an away draw with league newcomers Kerry, while undefeated Cobh travelled to Limerick as the in-form side thanks to wins against Kerry, Wexford, and a scoreless away draw at the hands of Longford.

It was the visitors who started the brightest but after Cobh full back Michael McCarthy’s effort on goal narrowly breezed over the bar in the third minute, Treaty spurred into life.  

Just shy of the 10 minute mark, the lively Dean George should have put the hosts ahead after the Treaty winger latched onto a headed pass from Enda Curran, but Lee Steacy was quickest to react.

Twenty minutes out from half time, Steacy was again on hand to deny George – the 24-year-old Dubliner met a low driven cross after a superb through ball from Enda Curran split the Cobh defence and found Success Edogun.

Wilson Waweru had Cobh’s first shot on target in the 37th minute after a well-taken corner but the Galway United loanee made life very easy for former Ramblers ‘keeper Shane Hallahan – the last action of note in an opening half that in truth never really got going.

Treaty had made one change to their visit to Mounthawk Park in Tralee last weekend as Success Edogun started in replace of William Armshaw. The injured Stephen Christopher returned to the bench for Tommy Barrett’s side.

Cobh on the other hand made two changes to their 0-0 draw away to Longford with Phillips and Kargbo replacing Desmond and O’Brien.

Treaty had their chances early on in the second half, but Steacy was equal to close-range shots from Curran and Edogun, before Waweru’s headed goal after 60 minutes turned the game on its head.  

Treaty, in search of an all-important equaliser were stretched defensively hereafter with Doherty captilsing twice more to put the result beyond any doubt.  

Treaty travel to Athlone next Friday still in search of their first win of the season.

TREATY UNITED: Shane Hallahan; Ben O’Riordan, Andy Spain, Anthony O’Donnell, Marc Ludden (capt.); Success Edogun, Conor Barry, Mark Walsh, Lee Devitt, Dean George; Enda Curran. Subs: William Armshaw for Barry (69 minutes); Alex Byrne for Mark Walsh, Colin Conroy for George, Stephen Christopher for Ludden (all 78 minutes);

COBH RAMBLERS: Lee Steacy; Michael McCarthy, Brendan Frahill,  Charlie Lyons, Cian Browne; Issa Kargbo, Pierce Phillips, Jason Abbott (capt.), Dale Holland;  Jack Doherty, Wilson Waweru. Subs: Luke Desmond for Holland (69 minutes); Tiernan O’Brien for Waweru, James O’Leary for Kargbo (both 79 minutes); Darragh O’Sullivan Connell for Browne, Callum Stringer Phillips (both 87 minutes)

REFEREE: Jason Moore (Kilkenny)