Treaty United suffer heart-breaking loss to Cobh at Markets Field

TREATY United hearts were broken as Cobh Ramblers scored a 90th winner to snatch all three points at the Markets Field in Thursday evening’s SSE Airtricity League First Division Munster derby clash.

After this dramatic defeat, Treaty United sit in eighth place in the league table, seven points off the promotion play-off places.

Cobh's last visit to the Market's Field on the opening night of the SSE First Division season was a memorable one for the home side when winger Thomas Considine netted a brace of goals in a 3-1 win in front of a bumper crowd.

In team news ahead of kick-off on Thursday night, Robbie Lynch, Enda Curran and new signing Steven Healy, who has joined Treaty on loan from Galway United for the remainder of the 2024 season, come into the starting XI.

Highly-rated young defender Darren Nwankwo was included on the bench for the game as was new signing, Croatian-born forward Trpimir Vrljicak, who was introduced as a second half substitute.

The opening chance of Thursday night's game, which was played in front of an attendance of 642, fell to the home side in the tenth minute when Yoyo Mahdy drove a header goalward after some excellent build-up play.

From the resulting corner, Enda Curran rose highest to glance the ball towards the top corner, but Dale Holland
came to Cobh’s rescue, blocking it on the line.

Just four minutes later, Cobh’s Tiernan O’Brien smashed his half-volley against the crossbar after a low cross from David Bosnjak found him free inside the Treaty box.

In the 20th minute, Mark Byrne got on the end of another excellent Treaty move before his shot was well saved by Darragh Burke. Enda Curran, Mahdy and Byrne all combined before Burke was forced to stretch to keep the sides scoreless.

Two minutes later, Liam Kervick came inches from giving the Rams an early lead. He raced onto another Bosnjak through ball before flicking his shot past the on-rushing Corey Chambers. However, Treaty captain Ben O’Riordan dived on the line to prevent what looked a certain goal.

Treaty had further chances throughout the half from Lee Devitt, Robbie Lynch, and O’Riordan before Enda Curran headed inches wide on the stroke of half-time as the game remained 0-0 at the break.

Four minutes after the restart, Curran found himself completely free at the back post after an inviting Stephen Christopher cross. However, the Treaty talisman sliced his effort directly at Burke.

The game then settled into a lull after a frantic first half, with little by way of goalmouth action.

That was until the 74th minute when substitute Thomas Considine electrified the Treaty attack with his pace forcing a good save from Burke after turning provider for a wayward Curran shot.

Five minutes later the winger split the Cobh defence but Mahdy couldn’t flick the ball in.

Robbie Lynch went close from a set piece in the 86th minute before Jack Larkin smashed home the winner on the stroke of the final whistle when buried his low shot beyond Chambers.

A late Treaty penalty claim was waved away by referee Ryan Maher, before Tommy Barrett’s men were ultimately consigned to their second consecutive league loss.

The Limerick side now face a trip to the capital next week where they will take on promotion-chasing UCD in the Belfield Bowl on Friday evening.

Meanwhile, Cobh will travel to the South East to play Wexford.

Treaty United: Corey Chambers, Mark Byrne (Niko Kozlowski 72), Stephen Christopher (Thomas Considine 72), Enda Curran (Trpimir Vrlkicak 82), Lee Devitt, Fionn Doherty, Steven Healy (Scott Kirkland 89), Robbie Lynch, Yoyo Mahdy (Alec Byrne 82), Evan O’Connor, Ben O’Riordan.

Cobh Ramblers: Darragh Burke, Jason Abbott, David Bosnjak (Matthew McKevitt 70), Brendan Frahill, Nolan Evers, Dale Holland, Liam Kervick (David Eguibor 70), Dean Larkin, Jack Larkin (Justin Eguaibor 90), Luka Le Brevet, Tiernan O’Brien (Pierce Phillips 70).

Referee: Ryan Maher

Attendance: 642