Treaty United spot on in dramatic shoot-out to avoid shock in FAI Cup

YOUNG goalkeeper Michael Dike was the hero as it took extra time and penalties for Tommy Barrett’s Treaty United to edge past a stubborn Kilbarrack United side after a scoreless draw in their Sports Direct FAI Cup second round tie on Friday evening in the Market’s Field.

Disappointing Treaty were relieved to advance to the last 16 stage of the Cup after defeating the Leinster Senior League
side 4-1 on penalties with teenager Dike saving two of the spot kicks in what was a frustrating evening in Garryowen.

The first chance of the game fell to the North Dublin side as Shane Lyons got on the end of an Adetobi Jinadu cross from the right to force a good save from Michael Dike in the sixth minute.

A couple of moments later, Enda Curran wasted a good opportunity for Treaty who were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. Unfortunately for Treaty, Curran blasted his effort well over the crossbar.

Yoyo Mahdy then tried his luck from a placed ball 35 yards from goal in the 18th minute but he curled his shot wide.

Kilbarrack almost had the ball in the net in the 30th minute as Treaty goalkeeper Michael Dike spilled what should have been a routine catch.

Deiric Hyland tried to stab the loose ball goalward but the home side had enough bodies back to block his netbound effort.

In the thirtieth second minute, Treaty should have been a goal up as Curran got on the end of a delightful Lee Lynch cross. The Shannonsiders talisman took down the ball six yards out before unleashing his shot, but Whelan got down well to save it.

Three minutes later, it was talented young defender Darren Nwankwo’s turn to go close as he got on the end of a Curran flick on, but he could direct his header goalward.

Treaty United's Mahdy had a couple of chances to round out the half as the sides went down the tunnel scoreless at the break.

Dublin side Kilbarrack began the second half strongly with chances through Jinadu and Lyons in what was a drab twenty minutes after the restart.

In the 69th minute, Lyons came inches from giving the visitors the lead as he pounced on a loose ball to dink his chip over the hapless Dike but his effort went agonizingly wide of the post.

The home side's first chance of the second half came in the 73rd minute when Curran found himself free on the edge of the box, but his shot was easily saved by Whelan.

Treaty had a couple of glancing efforts toward the end of the game through Lee Devitt, and Evan O’Connor.

On the stroke of the 90th minute, the Dublin side should have snatched it. A long ball broke kindly to Mark Townley who unleashed a powerful shot that beat Treaty 'keeper Dike, only for the ball to sail inches wide in what was the final chance of regulation time.

The Shannonsiders had a few speculative chances in the first period of extra time but their best came in the 102nd minute when Stephen Christopher broke the Kilbarrack defensive line but he could not direct his shot goalward. Two minutes later Leon Kirrane unleashed a powerful effort from the edge of the box but it dipped narrowly over.

Right at the end of the first period, Kilbarrack again should have scored when Lewis Skelly glanced his header inches wide of the post.

As the sides wilted and tireness took its toll, in was once again the visitors with the opportunity to win the tie. Jack Kelly broke through on goal in the 115th muinute, but he dragged his shot wide.

Then in the last minute of extra time, Evan O’Connor almost snatched the game with a close-range header from an in-swinging Lee Lynch centre, but he glanced his effort just over the crossbar.

It was the home side who held their nerve during the shootout with Lynch, Curran, Christopher, and Oisin O’Reilly all converting their spot-kicks in the shoot-out to book their place in the next round.

Young goalkeeper Michael Dike saved two of Kilbarrack's spot kicks in the shoot-out as Treaty book their place in the last 16 of the Cup.

Tommy Barrett’s men will now await the third-round draw midweek to find out their opponents as they prepare for the visit of Finn Harps to the Markets Field next Friday.

Treaty United: Michael Dike, Lee Lynch, Colin Conroy (Leon Kirrane 78), Yoyo Mahdy (Stephen Christopher 65), Thomas Considine (Trpimir Vrljicak 78), Adam O’Halloran (Robbie Lynch 78), Enda Curran, Evan O’Connor, Fionn Doherty (Oisín O’Reilly 99), Darren Nwankwo, Steven Healy (Lee Devitt 65).

Kilbarrack: Evan Whelan, Daniel Tobin, Ryan Fitzsimmons, Daniel Byrne, Aaron Humphries, Gavin Carroll (Eamonn Mulligan 100), Adetobi Jinadu (Gavin Kearney 91), Jamie Hamilton (Mick Malone 71), Shane Lyons (Jimmy McHugh 71), Deiric Hyland (Mark Townley 71), Lewis Skelly.

Referee: Daniel Murphy.