Treaty United looking to bounce back as the Shannonsiders welcome Cork City to Garryowen

TREATY United will be looking to bounce back from a tough weekend of SSE Airtricity League of Ireland First Division action when they welcome high-flying Cork City to the Markets Field on Friday night.

The Shannonsiders picked up just one point from their two First Division ties over the Easter weekend.

On Friday, Tommy Barrett's charges were held to an uneventful 0-0 draw in Garryowen before losing 4-0 to Cobh Ramblers at St Colman's Park on Monday evening.

A first-half hat-trick from Dylan McGlade virtually ended the game as a contest by the interval, before a superb second-half strike from Kai O'Neill allowed the Rams to ease past a Treaty side that has struggled for form and confidence throughout the season so far.

The Shannonsiders arrived at St Colman’s Park bottom of the league table, having secured just one win in their opening eight games with a narrow round six 1–0 home victory over Athlone Town.

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'The Rams', who are in the hunt for a promotion play-off place at this early stage of the season, had also endured a difficult start to the campaign, with their only wins coming against Kerry and Longford Town.

Tommy Barrett named four changes to his starting 11 from Good Friday’s scoreless draw at home to second bottom Longford Town.

Mark Murphy, Steven Healy, Kyle Foley and Jason Oyenuga all dropped to the bench, with Ronan Manning, Colin Conroy, Fionn Doherty and Niko Kozlowski coming into the starting line-up.

It was the home side who hit the front early, taking the lead with the first real opportunity of the game through McGlade, as the Rams midfielder slotted his shot into the bottom corner after good work from Rhys Gourdie created the opening.

McGlade ghosted into the area unmarked and calmly stroked the ball home from twelve yards to give Cobh an early advantage.
Nine minutes later, Ramblers and McGlade doubled their tally with a near-identical finish to his first.

Gourdie and Rhys Brennan combined on the right flank before the former drilled a dangerous ball across the Treaty six-yard box.

McGlade was again completely unmarked and had all the time he needed to collect possession and rifle his shot into the roof of the net from close range.

Right on the stroke of half-time, Ben Lynch was caught in possession by Rhys Brennan and tripped the Cobh midfielder inside the penalty area.

McGlade stepped up and coolly stroked the penalty home to secure his hat-trick and effectively end the game as a contest before the break, securing his hat-trick and his fifth goal in two games, with the Rams leading 3–0.

In the 56th minute, Cobh half-time substitute Kai O’Neill compounded Treaty’s misery when the rising Ramblers starlet latched onto a loose ball and powered his way beyond the Treaty defence before burying his shot to the net.

The 'Super Blues' will have their work cut out for them when they welcome the league leaders from Leeside to the Markets Field on Friday night.

The pair met on the opening day of the season at Turner's Cross where Treaty were narrowly beaten on a 1-0 scoreline.