Treaty United lose out to Kerry FC in First Division

TREATY United failed to capitalise on their good turn of fortune last Friday when they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Kerry FC in their SSE Airtricity League First Division fixture at Mounthawk Park on Bank Holiday Monday.

Ninth-placed Kerry hosted Treaty in Tralee having never beaten Tommy Barrett’s side in the league – but goals either side of half-time for the Kingdom secured the three points for the league’s newest side. 

A late Enda Curran penalty, 17 minutes from time, gave Treaty a fighting chance, but Kerry held out for their well-deserved three points. 

Treaty, who made four changes to their starting XI that defeated Longford last Friday, were a goal down inside 10 when Kennedy Amechi latched onto a through ball from Ryan Kelliher to find the net, despite being injured minutes previously.

After a long spell of dominance of play from Kerry, Tommy Barrett’s charges had their first real sniff at goal 10 minutes before the break.

In what was the visitor’s best chance of the half, William Armshaw, making his 100th appearance for Treaty, caused havoc in the Kerry box before Mark Walsh’s close-range effort drifted over the bar.

Eight minutes later, Treaty survived the first of two threatening Kerry chances in the space of three minutes, the first which saw a Kelliher close-range effort pushed onto the post after the Kerry striker latched onto a superb Kevin Williams cross.

Moments later, Treaty came close to going two goals down but Valerii Dolia’s snatched effort from a Sean O’Connell cross floated wide to the relief of the stretched Treaty defence.

Kerry all but secured the win eight minutes after the restart when Evan O’Connor put a Ronan Teahan cross into his own net.

Minutes later, just shy of the 55th minute, Lee Devitt had a long effort on goal but his shot failed to trouble Antonio Tuta in the Kerry goal.

When Tuta blocked a Curran shot moments later with his feet, it started to feel like it wasn’t going to be Treaty’s day.

Half-time substitute Curran gave Treaty a glimmer of hope when he beautifully curled home a 73rd minute after Devitt was pulled down by Teahan in the Kerry box.

Treaty were reduced to 10 when Curran saw red for an off the ball incident.

Kerry held out for their first back-to-back league wins for the first time. 

Treaty will return to action next Friday when they welcome Bray Wanderers to Markets Field on Friday, 7.45pm.

Treaty United: Corey Chambers; Robbie Lynch, Evan O’Connor, Mark Walsh (capt.), Lee Devitt; Scot Kirkland, Adam O’Halloran; William Armshaw, Leon Kirrane, Stephen Christopher; Mark Byrne. Subs: Enda Curran for Armshaw, Richkov Boevi for Kirrane (both half time), Mark Murphy for Kirkland, Sean Costelloe for O’Halloran (both 62 minutes)

Kerry FC: Antonio Tuta; Kevin Williams, Andrew Spain (capt.), Ethan Kos, Sean O’Connell; Ronan Teahan, Kennedy Amechi, Okwuy Okwute, Sean McGrath, Valerii Dolia; Ryan Kelliher. Subs: Daire McCarthy for Amechi (10 minutes, injured), Nathan Gleeson for Okwute (half time), Samuel Aladesanusi for Williams (68 minutes), Victor Udeze for Kelliher (88 minutes)

Referee: Ryan Maher (Tullamore)