TREATY United earned a dramatic share of the spoils against Shelbourne on Friday night thanks to a superb strike from distance by former St. Michaels man Willie Armshaw in the third minute of injury time. Armshaw’s effort cancelled out Michael O’Connor’s opener midway through the second half to earn the draw.
Treaty United made a couple of changes to the side with captain Jack Lynch returning in place of the suspended Clyde O’Connell and last week’s goal scoring hero Joe Collins replacing Matt McKevitt as Barrett opted to return to a 4-3-3 formation which changed to a 4-1-4-1 in defensive mode.
The first-half was a slow burner with both sides creating little of note outside of a couple of scrambles from corners. The first big chance of the game arrived seven minutes from half-time when Treaty were caught from a corner of their own and a quick break from the visitors saw Callum McNamara isolated in a 2 on 1 situation against Michael O’Connor and JJ Lunney but the latter was denied by the quick actions of Tadgh Ryan.
Jack Lynch mustered the home side’s first effort on goal but his long range shot was easily gathered by Brendan Clarke. Just before half-time, Dayle Rooney’s flick from a JJ Lunney corner hit the post and both teams entered the dressing rooms on level terms.
The second half was a more entertaining affair and the instrumental Ryan Brennan, who scored the equaliser when these sides met in Tolka Park in April, flashed a curling effort wide of goal as Shels looked for their 10th victory on the spin.
In the 55th minute, Tommy Barrett’s side missed a great opportunity to take the lead as Anthony O’Donnell beat the offside trap from the second phase of a corner kick and Marc Ludden’s floated cross was met by the central-defender but he was stretching and appeared to lose the flight of the ball and his header sailed harmlessly wide.
Substitute Matt McKevitt was in the determined mood as he replaced Kieran Hanlon as he drove straight at Gilchrist and Byrne but his shot was easily saved by Clarke.
With 20 minutes remaining, Shelbourne took the lead as a rare mistake and lapse in judgement in the air from Sean Guerins, allowed Michael O’Connor to control and expertly finish into the bottom corner much to the delight of their players and bench.
Ian Morris side were almost gifted the certainty of the three points when Ryan’s poor arrowed clearance hit Dayle Rooney but the Cappamore native somehow managed to keep the winger’s effort out to ensure Treaty were still in with a chance.
Barrett decided to make a number of attacking changes as he introduced William Armshaw and the returning Sean McSweeney while changing the formation to 3-5-2 in search of an equaliser with the introduction of Mark Walsh to the fray.
The substitutions paid off in the most dramatic fashion as Treaty had managed to create a couple of late chances from corners with goalkeeper Ryan also summoned to the penalty area in attack.
It looked as though the points were heading back to Dublin when Shelbourne cleared Marc Ludden’s last-minute corner but William Armshaw gathered possession at the edge of the box before rifling the ball into the top corner through a number of bodies and past the helpless Clarke. The goal sent the vocal 200 supporters in attendance into raptures and earned a superb draw for the side.
After the game, Tommy Barrett announced that both Edmond O’Dwyer and Shane Cusack have departed the club to return to St. Michaels and Newmarket respectively while former Cobh and Fairview winger Brian Murphy has signed for the club.
Treaty United: Tadgh Ryan, Charlie Fleming, Sean Guerins, Anto O’Donnell, Marc Ludden, Callum McNamara (Mark Walsh 87), Jack Lynch, Joe Collins, Ed McCarthy (Sean McSweeney 72), Matt Keane (Willie Amrshaw 72), Kieran Hanlon (Matt McKevitt 58)
Shelbourne: Brendan Clarke, John Ross Wilson, Ally Gilchrist, Luke Byrne, Kevin O’Connor, JJ Lunney, George Poynton, Ryan Brennan (Brian McManus 83), Dayle Rooney, Shane Farrell, Michael O’Connor
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