WATCH: Lee Devitt hat-trick fires Treaty United to clinical victory over Longford Town

DOMINANT Treaty United made it back-to-back home wins in an impressive 5-1 defeat of Longford Town in the SSE Airtricity League First Division at the Markets Field on Friday evening.

On a week when the Garryowen-based side secured a new long-term lease on their Market’s Field venue, Tommy Barrett’s charges claimed a second big home win on the trot, following up last week’s impressive 4-0 mauling of playoff rivals UCD.

A second Lee Devitt hat-trick of the season saw the Shannonsiders coast to victory over the visitors as they boosted their promotion play-off hopes and remain in fourth position, five points clear of sixth-placed UCD.

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As early as the fourth minute, Lee Devitt went close to opening the scoring for the home side as his close-range effort forced a finger tip save from Harry Halwax in the Longford net.

Seven minutes later, Darragh Murtagh had Longford’s first attempt as he broke through on goal before unleashing a powerful low shot that was saved by the shins of Karl Williams.

Halwax was called into action again in the twenty-fifth minute. A long Ben Lynch throw-in caused havoc in the area, and Halwax was forced to dive at full stretch to push the bouncing ball away from danger.

Another hat-trick for Lee Devitt pic.twitter.com/ETsTOPJwfH

— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) May 24, 2025

Eventually, in the 32nd minute, Devitt broke the deadlock with his ninth goal of the season. The midfielder picked up possession in his own half before marauding forward into the Longford box. After twisting and turning, he buried a low shot into the bottom right corner.

Two minutes from half-time, Croatian forward Trpimir Vrljicak came close to doubling the Treaty side's lead, but his effort was well blocked out for a corner by former Treaty man Andy Spain.

Luke Wade Slater went close to restoring parity three minutes after the restart, but his effort was flicked over following a driven low cross from Emre Topcu.

The home side immediately went up the other end and almost doubled their lead as Devitt and Karl O’Sullivan combined before the latters effort rattled off the upright. However, just two minutes later, Devitt had his and Treaty’s second goal of the evening as he got on the end of a Vrljičak through ball before dinking his effort past the on-rushing Halwax.

A devastating ten minutes would follow. In the 54th minute, Vrljicak got himself on the scoresheet, deftly nutmegging Emmanuel Molongo on the left wing before burying a devastating shot to the back of the net to make it 3-0.

Then in the 62nd minute, a hooked ball from the Croatian found the feet of Karl O’Sullivan who in turn squared it to Devitt, who had the simplest of tap-ins to secure his second match ball of the season.

Visitors Longford tried to get back into the game, and they did six minutes later through a goal from Erick Yoro.

The midfielder picked up a loose ball on the edge of the Treaty box, before rifling a low shot goalwards past Karl O’Sullivan to rob the Nenagh native of his second consecutive clean sheet.

Eight minutes from time, Aaron Doran came close to halving the deficit as his drilled effort soared inches past the top left corner.

However, four minutes later, substitute Yoyo Mahdy grabbed his fourth goal of the season and Treaty’s fifth of the night as he curled his effort into the bottom left corner to wrap up another big home win for the Shannonsiders.

Next up for the Shannonsiders is an away Munster derby trip to second-placed Cobh Ramblers at St Colman's Park next Friday night. Meanwhile, ninth-placed Longford will make the trip to Tralee to take on Kerry.

Treaty United: Karl Williams, Eoin Martin (Richkov Boevi 72), Robbie Lynch, Evan O’Connor, Ben Lynch, Steven Healy (Colin Conroy 78), Karl O’Sullivan (Dean Owens 72), Lee Devitt, Lee Lynch (Valeriy Dolya 85), Trpimir Vrljicak (Yoyo Mahdy 72), Conor Wilson.

Longford Town: Harry Halwax, Dean O’Shea, Andy Spain, Oisin Hand (Emmanuel Milongo 41), Aaron Walsh, Pharrell Manuel (Mohammed Boudiaf 74), Luke Wade Slater (Josh Giurgi 74), Aaron Doran, Erick Yoro, Emre Topcu (Ross Fay 87), Darragh Murtagh (Stefan Ugbesia 74).

Referee: Ryan Maher.