Devitt on the double as Treaty United down Cobh Ramblers in First Division

RESILENT Treaty United eased to an impressive  3-0 victory over Cobh Ramblers in a rare Monday evening Munster Derby in the SSE Airtricity League First Division at St Colman’s Park.

The result means that Treaty leap-frog Cobh into seventh position in the league table and end their five-game winless run.

Meanwhile, Cobh’s disappointing run has been extended to five straight losses as they slip to eighth place.

Highly rated teenage goalkeeper Michael Dike made his first league appearance since April in place of the suspended Corey Chambers.

Dike came into Treaty's starting XI along with Nikodem Kozlowski, Alec Byrne, David Tarmey, Leon Kirrane and Chris Horgan.

Academy players Adam Brennan and Scott Murphy were included on the substitutes' bench for the first time.

Robbie Lynch missed out through injury.

Treaty's promising young goalkeeper Dike was called into action after just two minutes as Matthew McKevitt forced him into a good save.

The Shannonsiders' first opportunity came in the 10th minute when some well-worked play saw Lee Devitt force a good save from Darragh Burke in the Ram’s goal.

Twelve minutes later Devitt had better luck as Darragh Burke came to clear a through ball but it only found its way as far as the Treaty midfielder. Devitt then deftly dinked the ball over the stranded goalkeeper and into the back of the Cobh net.

Four minutes later Cobh almost immediately equalised but Dike again came to the rescue.

James O’Leary linked up with McKevitt who unleashed another low shot, forcing the teenager into a diving save.

Treaty looked dangerous every time they got forward and had half chances through David Tarmey and Lee Lynch but it was Devitt who went closest to doubling his and the visitors' tally.

The midfielder picked up possession on the edge of the box before rifling a shot goalward that clipped the crossbar in the thirty-sixth minute.

McKevitt had another go in the 40th minute, but his looping effort from the edge of the box had Dike scrambling for his post,  but it went harmlessly wide.

Treaty were dealt a blow before the second half began with Lee Lynch going off with a knock, but Tommy Barrett's side made the perfect start, extending their lead within 90 seconds of the restart.

David Tarmey got in behind the Rams defence with an exquisite turn. His shot was well parried by Burke, but nineteen-year-old Niko Kozlowski buried the rebound for his first senior goal.

First half goalscorer Devitt tried to repeat his exploits in the 56th minute but his 40-yard chip went narrowly over the crossbar to the relief of the marooned Burke.

Both sides had timid efforts over the next quarter hour as Treaty sought to consolidate their position with Cobh going closest in the 78th minute. McKevitt and Larkin linked again but the latter’s effort deflected narrowly over the bar.

In the 81st minute, the game was put to bed as Devitt got his deserved second goal.

The midfielder got on the end of a long ball and held off his man before unleashing a driven shot to the bottom corner of the net.

Two minutes later Devitt found himself in the same position, latching onto the end of a long ball behind the Cobh defence but he was denied his hat-trick by a diving save from Burke.

The result means that Barrett’s men could still mathematically qualify for the play-offs as they sit 11 points behind Wexford who occupy the last berth with four games left to play.

Next up for the Shannonsiders is the visit of second-bottom Longford to the Market’s Field on Friday. Meanwhile Cobh travel to Athlone.

Cobh Ramblers: Darragh Burke, Michael McCarthy (Nolan Evers 75), Brendan Frahill, Dean Larkin, Matthew McKevitt, Jack Larkin, James O’Leary, David Eguaibor (David Bosnjak 67), Regix Madika, Luka Le Bervet, Jason Abbott.

Treaty United: Michael Dike, Oisin O’Reilly, Lee Devitt (Adam O’Halloran 88), Lee Lynch (Colin Conroy 45), Niko Kozlowski (Steven Healy 55) , Alec Byrne, David Tarmey (Yoyo Mahdy 68), Evan O’Connor, Richkov Boevi, Leon Kirrane (Trpimir Vrljicak 55), Christy Horgan.

Referee: Glen Geraghty.