- Éanna Mackey
- Sat, Apr 27 2024
Treaty United's winless run has extended to eight games as they suffered their second consecutive loss in a 2-0 defeat to University College Dublin in the SSE Airtricity League First Division at Markets Field on Friday evening.
Visitors UCD arrived at the Garryowen venue unbeaten in seven, lying second in the table, whilst Treaty dropped to seventh after last week's defeat to Bray, three points off the play-offs.
The visitors were ahead within the opening minute as a deflected, whipped effort from McCullagh beat Chambers in the Treaty goal, leaving the home side with an uphill task from the off.
The game settled after the Students' early goal, with UCD rattling off several good shots while Treaty struggled to create any real chances. Parker and Doyle had half-chances, with Brennan coming close to doubling the visitors' lead, but his effort forced a good save from Chambers. Treaty’s best chance came on the stroke of half-time.
A blocked free kick from Kirrane was recycled by Byrne. His whipped cross was met by Considine, but his low shot was well saved by Moore. Just moments later, a cross from the left found Devitt in space, but he drove his shot over from yards out.
Croom youngster Leon Kirrane almost equalised just after the restart in spectacular fashion as his attempted bicycle kick from the edge of the box went agonisingly wide of the post. He followed that up with a header straight at Moore a minute later.
Kirrane and Considine began to link up well and trouble the Students' defence with their one-touch passing. The pair combined to create a golden opportunity for Devitt, but the midfielder scuffed his shot yards out from goal.
Despite Treaty’s good play to get back into the game, it was all but put to bed in the sixty-seventh minute. A looping cross from the left wasn’t dealt with by the home defence, and after two missed kicks, Parker rolled the loose ball calmly into the bottom corner.
Hapless Treaty came closest to scoring in the eighty-first minute as Walsh's header was saved on the line by Moore. His follow-up attempt amidst a goalmouth scramble cracked agonisingly off the crossbar.
Tommy Barrett’s men will now face the difficult task of arresting their poor run of form in Ballybofey next week where they will play Finn Harps. Meanwhile, UCD will face Cork City in a top-of-the-table clash in Belfield.
Treaty United: Corey Chambers, Ben O’Riordan, Oisín O’Reilly, Lee Devitt, Thomas Considine (Sean Costelloe 73), Stephen Christopher (Fionn Doherty 73), Scott Kirkland (Colin Conroy 46), Mark Walsh, Robbie Lynch, Leon Kirrane (Adam O’Halloran 84), Mark Byrne (Alec Byrne).
Subs not used: Michael Dike, Nikodem Kozlowski, Mark Murphy, Mark O’Halloran.
Booked: Colin Conroy 77, Ben O’Riordan 90 + 1.
UCD: Kian Moore, Alex Dunne, Adam Wells (Harry Curtis 73), Eanna Clancy, Sean Brennan, Michael McCullagh (Adam Brennan 90+1), Michael Raggett, Donal Higgins (Adam Verdon 63), Niall Holohan, Jake Doyle (Colin Bolton 73), Hugh Parker.
Subs not used: Ciaran Behan, Dara Kavanagh, Danu Kinsella-Bishop, Stephen Mohan, Sam Norval.
Booked: Donal Higgins 44, Hugh Parker 46, Alex Dunne 66, Adam Verdon 76, Niall Holohan 90 + 4.
Referee: Michael Connolly
Attendance: 764.
