Treaty Utd woes continue as Longford Town rediscover form to secure Airtricity League victory

TREATY United’s wait for a win in the First Division of the SSE Airtricity League continues after a 2-0 loss to Longford Town on Saturday night. 

Tommy Barrett’s Limerick side last tasted victory on July 11.

After a three-game losing streak and failing to beat Treaty in seven of their last ten meetings, Longford Town rediscovered their form at Bishopsgate last evening. 

The hosts, who hadn’t kept a clean sheet in six marches pressed from the start, refusing to let their playoff rivals settle, and were rewarded with well-taken goals from Aaron Doran and Darragh Murtagh.

READ MORE: Limerick sides learn their potential pathways through the Munster GAA Club Championships

Treaty began brightly, carving out a chance inside two minutes when O’Connor set up former Longford man Ben Lynch, whose thunderous header rattled the crossbar. Longford responded swiftly as Darragh Murtagh attempted an audacious 35-yard yard volley, nearly catching Canadian keeper Chambers off his line. 

The hosts settled quickly, and in the eighth minute Daniel Norris skipped past defenders and was fouled by Ronan Lynch . Aaron Doran’s free-kick narrowly missed the post. Treaty threatened again on 13 minutes with Patrick Ferry through on goal, but Sean Moore’s timely last ditch tackle won the ball and a free-kick for the midlanders . 

Longford came close on eighteen minutes when O’Shea’s quick throw-in caught Treaty off guard, Moore swung the ball in with pace but Murtagh’s unmarked header looped harmlessly over. The breakthrough arrived on 21 minutes. Stefan Ugbesia held off three defenders before setting up Eric Yoro, whose pinpoint cross found Norris. Norris, with skill, skipped inside two defenders and was brought down by Kozlowski in the box. Up stepped Aaron Doran for the fourth time this season who blasted home the penalty right into the bottom corner —his sixth goal this season. 

Treaty pushed forward attempting to respond quickly when Ben Lynch’s header across the box found Conroy who’s shot flashed by the Longford goal . Fifteen minutes before halftime, a long throw from Ronan Lynch was met by Wilson,  forcing a sharp save from keeper Halwax. Just before the break, Lynch skipped past Doran but his cross was cleared by Spain, summing up a frustrating half for Tommy Barrett’s side but a well deserved lead for Wayne Groves and Longford town. 

At the interval, Treaty made two changes to try find a way back. But within three minutes, Longford doubled their lead with a moment of quality. Dean O’Shea beat O’Connor down the right and rolled the ball to Murtagh , who deftly chopped it in the air across his marker and unleashed a stunning half-volley into the top right corner.

Soon after, Eric Yoro was booked for a foul in a dangerous area. From the free-kick, Devitt — the league’s third-highest goalscorer — tried to add to his tally but instead caught Daniel Norris with a late boot,  play quickly resumed and  Norris then linked with captain O’Shea and Murtagh, with O’Shea’s dangerous cross being heroically cleared by Walsh to deny Longford a third. 

Treaty attempted to break down the left with Finn Doherty, strong challenges from Andrew Spain and Oisin Hand couldn’t halt him, until Eric Yoro came across in the final phase to muscle Doherty off the ball . Both defenders were later booked for the fouls on the treaty man . 

With under 20minutes remaining, Treaty substitute Vrljičak fired a dangerous ball across the Longford six-yard box, Oisin Hand reacted fast with a clever toe-poke clearing it from a lurking Lee Devitt in what would have been an open goal .

Not long after, Luke Wade-Slater forced a corner for Longford, and local favourite Emmanuel Oluwafemi climbed highest to send a powerful header inches wide. Moments later, he was booked for a foul on Conroy, but redeemed himself straight from the resulting free-kick by driving the ball clear from inside his own box — a passage of play that summed up the commitment in Longford’s defending.

As the clock wound down, Doran conceded a late Treaty corner which saw Halwax spill Murphy’s cross, but Spain was there to clear it off the line.

Deep into stoppage time, Treaty’s final chance came with a free-kick on the edge of the area, but Longford once again defended with passion and conviction to secure their first win in four matches, their first clean sheet in six, and a second home victory over Treaty this season.

LONGFORD TOWN: Halwax, Hand, Yoro, Spain, O’Shea, Manuel, Moore, Norris, Doran, Ugbesia, Murtagh. SUBS: Robinson for Murtagh, Oluwafemi for Ugbesia, Slater for Norris (all 71 min).

TREATY UNITED: Chambers, O’Connor, R. Lynch, B. Lynch, Walsh, Conroy, Kozlowski, Molloy, Wilson, Byrne, Ferry. SUBS: Vrljičak for Kozlowski (46 mins), Doherty for Wilson (46 mins), Hanson for Ferry (69 mins), Murphy for Byrne (85 mins).

REFEREE: Alan Franklin