- Éanna Mackey
- Sun, Jul 21 2024
Eanna Mackey reports from the Markets Field
Young goalkeeper Michael Dike was the hero as it took extra time and penalties for Tommy Barrett’s Treaty United to overcome a stubborn Kilbarrack United 4-1 from the spot after a scoreless draw in the FAI Cup second Round on Friday evening in the Markets Field.
Disappointing Treaty advanced to the next round after defeating the Leinster Senior League side 4-1 on penalties with Dike saving two in what was a frustrating evening in Garryowen.
The first chance of the game fell to the North Dublin side as Shane Lyons got on the end of an Adetobi Jinadu cross from the right to force a good save from Michael Dike in the sixth minute.
A couple of moments later Enda Curran wasted a good opportunity for Treaty who were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. Unfortunately for Treaty, Curran blasted his effort well over the crossbar. Yoyo Mahdy tried his luck from a placed ball thirty-five yards from goal in the 18th minute, but he curled his shot wide.
Kilbarrack almost had the ball in the net in the 30th minute as Treaty goalkeeper Michael Dike spilled what should have been a routine catch. Deiric Hyland tried to stab the loose ball goalward, but the home side had enough bodies back to block his net bound effort.
In the 32nd minute, Treaty should have been a goal up as Curran got on the end of a delightful Lee Lynch cross. The Shannonsiders’ talisman touched down the ball six yards out before unleashing his shot, but Whelan got down well to save it.
Three minutes later it was Darren Nwankwo’s turn to go close as he got on the end of a Curran flick on but he couldn’t direct his header goalward. Mahdy had a couple of chances to round out the half as the sides went down the tunnel scoreless at the break.
Kilbarrack began the second half strongly with chances through Jinadu and Lyons in what was a drab twenty minutes after the restart.
In the 69th minute, Lyons came inches from giving the visitors the lead as he pounced on a loose ball to dink his chip over the hapless Dike but his effort went agonizingly wide of the post.
The Shannonsiders’ first chance of the second half came in the 73rd minute when Curran found himself free on the edge of the box but his shot was easily saved by Whelan.
Treaty had a couple of glancing efforts toward the end of the game through Lee Devitt, and Evan O’Connor.
On the stroke of the final whistle, the Dublin side should have snatched it. A long ball broke kindly to Mark Townley who unleashed a powerful shot that beat Dike, but it sailed inches wide in what was the final chance of regulation time.
The Shannonsiders had a few speculative chances in the first period of extra time but their best came in the 102nd minute when Stephen Christopher broke the Kilbarrack defensive line but he could not direct his shot goalward. Two minutes later Leon Kirrane unleashed a powerful effort from the edge of the box but it dipped narrowly over.
Right at the end of the first period, Kilbarrack again should have scored when Lewis Skelly glanced his header inches wide of the post.
As the sides wilted in was once again the visitors with the opportunity to win the tie. Jack Kelly broke through on goal in the twenty-fifth minute of extra time but he dragged his shot wide.
In the last minute of extra time, Evan O’Connor almost snatched the game with a close-range header from an in swinging Lee Lynch but he glanced his effort just over.
It was the home side who held their nerve during the shootout with Lynch, Curran, Christopher, and Oisin O’Reilly all converting to book their place in the next round.
Tommy Barrett’s men will now await the third-round draw midweek to find out their opponents as they prepare for the visit of Finn Harps next Friday.
Treaty United: Michael Dike; Fionn Doherty (Oisín O'Reilly 100), Steven Healy (Lee Devitt Molloy 65), Darren Nwankwo, Evan O'Connor; Colin Conroy (Leon Kirrane 77), Thomas Considine (Trpimir Vrljicak 77), Lee-J Lynch, Yousef Mahdy (Stephen Christopher 65), Mark O'Halloran; Enda Curran.
Subs not used: Corey Chambers, Scott Kirkland, Alec Byrne.
Booked: Colin Conroy (74), Evan O'Connor (108).
Kilbarrack United: Evan Whelan, Daniel Tobin, Ryan Fitzsimmons, Daniel Byrne, Aaron Humphries (Jack Kelly 89), Gavin Carroll (Eamonn Mulligan 100), Adetobi Jinadu (Gavin Kearney 91), Jamie Hamilton (Mick Malone 71), Shane Lyons (Jimmy McHugh 71), Deiric Hyland (Mark Townley 71), Lewis Skelly.
Subs not used: Conor Enis, Lee Doyle, Sean Hayden.
Booked: Eamon Mulligan (118).
Referee: Daniel Murphy.
Attendance: 383
