Treaty United suffer last gasp defeat in Women's Premier Division

TREATY United senior women's team hearts were broken on Saturday afternoon following a last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Wexford FC in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division in front of almost 200 spectators at the Markets Field.

Ellen Molloy snatched victory for the visitors in the 94th minute with a wondergoal, confining Dominic Foley’s side to their sixth defeat in seven.

Ninth-place Treaty welcomed fifth-placed Wexford to Garryowen on the back of an excellent 2-0 away victory over DLR Waves that ended the Limerick-based side's seven-game winless league run.

Meanwhile, Wexford arrived in Limerick in a good run of form being undefeated in five league games despite last weekend's dramatic penalty shoot-out defeat to Galway in the All-Island Cup semi-final.

Treaty made an aggressive start with Katie Lawlee rattling off a shot inside the first minute, but she couldn’t direct her effort goalwards. Three minutes later Jillian O’Toole dragged her header harmlessly wide.

In the seventh minute, Teegan Lynch found herself in space on the edge of the Treaty box, but she blasted her effort from Ceola Bergin’s cushioned pass. However, Anne-Marie Ulliac got down well to save for the home side.

Wexford then took the lead in the 11th minute as Ceola Bergin capitalised on a defensive error to latch onto the loose ball and coolly flick it beyond Ulliac.

Treaty tried to respond with half chances from Cayleigh Boeckx, Delana Friesen, and Anna Rockett but none managed to trouble Wexford goalkeeper Jayne Merren.

In the 27th minute, Wexford very nearly doubled their advantage. Alyssa White curled her effort from the edge of the box but Mijke Roelfsema made a vital headed intervention to keep it out.

New signing Friesen came close to restoring parity in the 35th minute as she found herself in space in the box after a lofted pass from O’Toole. However, the Canadian could not stretch to get enough contact on the ball as it was smothered by the on-rushing Merren.

Following the break, the first chance was not until the sixty-first minute when Danielle Steer flashed her header well wide. Katie Lawlee was next to have a go when she drove her effort off target following a bursting run in the sixty-seventh minute.

Treaty were handed a lifeline in the 80th minute when Merren fouled Friesen after she parried a shot from distance by Lawlee. Danielle Steer stepped up to take the resulting penalty and made no mistake, rifling her shot to the back of the net.

Lawlee had the chance to win it for the home side in the 88th minute as the young attacker raced through on goal having gotten on the end of a long ball from defence.

The Ballingarry native unleashed her driven shot but Merren managed to parry it with her knees and away to safety.

On the stroke of full-time, Danielle Steer found herself free in the Wexford box but she skied her header over from six yards out before Wexford immediately went up the other end to snatch the game right at the death.  

Ellen Molloy found a pocket of space on the edge of the Treat penalty area and unleashed a thunderbolt to the roof of the net beyond the helpless Ulliac with what was essentially the last kick of the game.

It was heartbreak for Dominic Foley’s side as they now turn their attention to the visit of Ferns United in the FAI Cup First round next weekend. Meanwhile, Wexford will make the trip to the capital to take on Shamrock Rovers.

Treaty United: Anne-Marie Ulliac, Ayaka Ikeza (Aibhlinn Cotter 86), Erin Van Dolder, Mijke Roelfsema, Delana Friesen, Caleigh Boeckx (Cara Griffin 68), Jillian O’Toole, Kate O’Donovan, Katie Lawlee, Anna Rockett, Danielle Steer.

Wexford: Jayne Merren, Abby Tuthill, Orlaith Conlon, Della Maria Doherty, Kylie Murphy (Leah McGrath 60), Ellen Molloy, Ceola Bergin (Aine Walsh 77), Meabh Russell, Aoibheann Clancy, Teegan Lynch (Rianna Jarrett 89), Alyssa White (Ciara Rossitor 60).

Referee: Ian O’Keefe.

Attendance – 192.