Treaty United host Athlone Town in First Division clash in Garryowen

The Shannonsiders climbed off the foot of the table in their last league tie against Finn Harps in Ballybofey.

A sublime Colin Conroy strike was enough to give Treaty all three points a fortnight ago, three points which saw Tommy Barrett’s charges leap-frog their Donegal opponents to ninth in the First Division table.

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Treaty now sit in ninth position, at the expense of Harps, on 23 points, three points adrift of eight place Kerry FC and eight points off those all important play-off positions.

Athlone Town will be looking to make it back-to-back league wins following their victory over Cobh Ramblers before the break, a result which saw the Midlanders rise to seventh in the table.

Athlone did keep their winning momentum on a roll in the FAI Cup last week following a second round triumph over Midleton in Lissywollen, running out convincing 3-0 winners.

Treaty had no such luck in their Club Orange FAI Cup second round clash with UCD at the Markets Field last weekend.

It was heartbreak for Tommy Barrett's 10-man Treaty United as the Shannonsiders crashed out of the cup at the first hurdle, falling to a 2-1 defeat against fellow First Division side UCD in sweltering conditions at the Markets Field.

A frantic spell just before half-time saw new signing Colm Whelan shown a straight red card before Treaty remarkably took the lead less than two minutes later through Ronan Manning's penalty.

However, second-half strikes from substitutes Hugh Smith and Charles Akinrintayo completed the turnaround to send the Students into the hat for the next round.

The opening half-hour was a cagey affair, with neither goalkeeper seriously tested. The first meaningful chance fell to Treaty after 30 minutes when Eric Yoro burst down the right flank, cut inside and drilled a low effort narrowly wide of the far post.

Moments later came the game's defining flashpoint. In the thirty-third minute, Whelan was dismissed after catching UCD goalkeeper Noah Douglas with a high boot as both challenged for a ball clipped over the top by Manning.

Douglas had raced from his line to head clear, but Whelan's follow-through caught the goalkeeper in the head, leaving referee David Dunne little option but to produce a straight red card.

However, despite being reduced to 10 men, Treaty responded in remarkable fashion just ninety seconds later. Jason Oyenuga drove powerfully down the right wing, skipped beyond Sean Murphy and burst into the penalty area before being brought down by the UCD defender.

Manning stepped up and emphatically dispatched the resulting spot-kick, sending Douglas the wrong way with a superb finish into the top corner to hand the hosts an unlikely lead.

UCD emerged after the interval with renewed purpose and almost levelled inside the opening minute. Ciarán Behan met a dangerous delivery from close range, but Jack Brady reacted brilliantly to preserve Treaty's advantage.

However, the visitors' dominance was eventually rewarded on the hour mark. A loose pass from Eric Yoro deep into the UCD half was intercepted by Louis Dignam, who immediately drove forward at pace before slipping an inviting pass into the path of substitute Hugh Smith who converted.

Things soon went from bad to worse as Treaty's resistance was finally broken with twelve minutes remaining. Another defensive mix-up between Ben Lynch and Yoro left the ball loose inside the penalty area, allowing substitute Charles Akinrintayo to pounce and grant UCD a safe passage into the third round.