League Report: Treaty United 0 - 1 Cobh Ramblers

Treaty United hearts were broken as Cobh Ramblers scored a ninetieth-minute winner to steal all three points from the Markets Field in this evening’s SSE Airtricity League First Division Munster Derby.

Cobh's last visit to the Markets Field on the opening night of the SSE First Division Season was a memorable one for the home side when winger Thomas Considine netted a brace in a 3-1 win in front of a bumper crowd.

The opening chance of the game fell to the home side in the tenth minute when Yoyo Mahdy drove a header goalward after some excellent build-up play. From the resulting corner, Enda Curran rose highest to glance the ball towards the top corner, but Dale Holland came to Cobh’s rescue, blocking it on the line.

Just four minutes later Cobh’s Tiernan O’Brien smashed his half-volley against the crossbar after a low cross from David Bosnjak found him free inside the Treaty box.

In the twentieth minute, Mark Byrne got on the end of another excellent Treaty move before his shot was well saved by Darragh Burke. Enda Curran, Mahdy, and Byrne all combined before Burke was forced to stretch to keep the sides scoreless.

Two minutes later Liam Kervick came inches from giving the Rams an early lead. He raced onto another Bosnjak through ball before flicking his shot past the on-rushing Corey Chambers, but Treaty captain Ben O’Riordan dived on the line to save what looked a certain goal.

Treaty had further chances throughout the half from Lee Devitt, Robbie Lynch, and O’Riordan before Enda Curran headed inches wide on the stroke of halftime.

Four minutes after the restart Curran found himself completely free at the back post after an inviting Stephen Christopher cross, but the Treaty talisman sliced his effort directly at Burke.

The game then settled into a lull after a frantic first half, with little to pick from regarding goalmouth action.

That was until the seventy-fourth minute when substitute Thomas Considine electrified the Treaty attack with his pace, forcing a good save from Burke after turning provider for a wayward Curran shot. Five minutes later the winger split the Cobh defence, but Mahdy couldn’t flick the ball in.

Robbie Lynch went close from a set piece in the eighty-sixth minute before Jack Larkin smashed home the winner on the stroke of the final whistle when he buried his low shot beyond Chambers.

A late Treaty penalty claim was waved away by referee Ryan Maher as Tommy Barrett’s men were confined to their second consecutive loss.

The Limerick side now face a trip to the capital next week where they will take on promotion-chasing UCD in the Belfield Bowl. Meanwhile, Cobh will travel to the South East to play Wexford.

Treaty United: Corey Chambers, Mark Byrne (Niko Kozlowski 72), Stephen Christopher (Thomas Considine 72), Enda Curran (Trpimir Vrlkicak 82), Lee Devitt, Fionn Doherty, Steven Healy (Scott Kirkland 89), Robbie Lynch, Yoyo Mahdy (Alec Byrne 82), Evan O’Connor, Ben O’Riordan.

Cobh Ramblers: Darragh Burke, Jason Abbott, David Bosnjak (Matthew McKevitt 70), Brendan Frahill, Nolan Evers, Dale Holland, Liam Kervick (David Eguibor 70), Dean Larkin, Jack Larkin (Justin Eguaibor 90), Luka Le Brevet, Tiernan O’Brien (Pierce Phillips 70).

Referee: Ryan Maher

Attendance: 642