Treaty United score early and late to secure victory over Finn Harps

TOMMY Barrett’s Treaty United battled to an invaluable 2-0 win away to playoff rivals Finn Harps in Ballybofey in the SSE Airtricity League First Division on Friday evening.

Goals from Robbie Lynch and Mark Byrne secured the three points for the Limerick-based side as the Treaty men leapfrogged Wexford into fourth place in the table, three points clear of UCD, who lie just outside of the promotion play-off berths.

Patrick Ferry had the game's opening chance after four minutes when he flashed his header narrowly wide of the Treaty goal.

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However, just 90 seconds later, the visitors took the lead.

Robbie Lynch managed to turn home a loose ball following an in-swinging corner. As the ball ricocheted around the six-yard box, David Aziaya failed to deal with it, and Lynch had the goal at his mercy to calmly poke his effort home.

Corey Chambers was called into action for the first time in the eleventh minute as a hoofed ball from Aziaya bounced all the way to Gradi Lomboto, whose low effort forced Chambers to block the shot with his shins and put the ball out for a corner.

Treaty duo Yoyo Mahdy and Lee Devitt went close to doubling the visitors' lead in the twenty-seventh minute as some good combination play saw the latter unleash an effort goalward.

However, Devitt’s show was saved by the fingertips of Aziaya to keep the difference to a minimum.

Aziaya seemed to have trouble under high balls and, on the stroke of halftime, once again struggled to deal with a Robbie Lynch long throw. The ball ricocheted around the box again and rebounded off the head of Tony McNamee before the Harps goalkeeper gratefully smothered the loose ball.

As the Ballybofey-based side chased the Treaty lead, the Shannonsiders seemed content to sit back and attack on the counter.

Harps had a penalty claim waved away seven minutes after the restart as Anthony Dodds and the home support were incensed that he was fouled by Mark Byrne.

In the 63rd minute, Karl O’Sullivan grazed his effort narrowly wide after a driven Devitt cross. Moments later Dara McGuinness had another penalty claim ignored.

Lomboto delivered a cross to the back post toward McGuinness; he skied his header over but was clattered by the onrushing Chambers and Evan O’Connor.

In the 66th minute another in-swinging corner caused chaos in the Harps defence as Aziaya struggled again to deal with it. The ball looked destined to hit the back of the net were it not for a miraculous goal-line clearance from William Oduwa.

As the game entered its closing stages, Harps had half chances through David Cawley, McNamee, Lomboto and Gavin McLaughlin, but none managed to test Chambers in the Treaty goal.

In the dying moments, Mark Byrne led a Treaty counterattack, beating Gavin Gilmore before unleashing his shot. His effort curled a pinpoint into the bottom corner and sealed the three points for the Limerick men.

Next up, Treaty United will face the short trip to Tralee, where they face Kerry FC in a Munster derby. Meanwhile, Finn Harps will host Athlone Town in Ballybofey.

Finn Harps: David Aziaya, Josh Cullen, Joel Thompson (Kevin Jordan 90), William Oduwa (Gavin Gilmore 70), Gavin McAteer (Aaron McLaughlin 70), Max Hutchinson, Tony McNamee, Anthony Dodd (David Cawley 61), Patrick Ferry (Dara McGuinness 61), Gradi Lomboto, Gavin Hodgins.

Treaty United: Corey Chambers, Ben Lynch, Robbie Lynch, Evan O’Connor, Eoin Martin, Mark Walsh (Richkov Boevi 46), Karl O’Sullivan, Mark Byrne, Steven Healy (Conor Wilson 90), Lee Devitt, Yoyo Mahdy (David Tarmey 67).

Referee: Ryan Maher