Treaty United secured a morale boosting 0-2 victory over Cobh Ramblers at St. Colman’s Park last night as a goal in each half from Ben O’Riordan (OG) and substitute Willie Armshaw gave Tommy Barrett’s men all three points.
Treaty made four changes to the team which suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Cork City on Monday night with Jack Brady, Marc Ludden, Matt Keane and Martin Coughlan coming in to the side in place of Conor Winn, Joe Collins, Conor Melody and Joel Coustrain.
It was Shane Keegan’s first match in charge of Cobh Ramblers after leaving Treaty last week.
In a very scrappy opening, neither team managed to gain a foothold in opposition territory for a sustained period and create a clear-cut chance. On the quarter hour mark, Treaty took the lead when Keane received possession on the right wing before fizzing a cross along the six yard area.
In an effort to clear under pressure from former Ramblers player Martin Coughlan, Ben O’Riordan miscued the ball into his own net.
The Limerick side came close to doubling their lead when Ramblers failed to clear a Ludden cross from the right and Jack Lynch’s effort was cleared off the line by O’Riordan. In the next attack, Danny O’Connell crossed to the back post for Jake Hegarty who headed wide from close range.
Treaty were forced into an early attacking substitution when Melody replaced Dean George who picked up a knock. With Enda Curran already on the sideline through injury, Treaty looked thin in an attacking sense. Ludden’s crosses were causing problems for Cobh all evening and Melody almost profited from their inability to clear but Barron saved from close range.
Ludden was in the thick of the action and the experienced full back tried to catch Sean Barron out from a free-kick at his near post but the former Waterford man comfortably saved. Up until this point, Cobh had shown little of the expected bounce due to the arrival of new manager Shane Keegan but midfielder Sean McGrath did show some initiative as he drove upfield before combining with Drinan and shooting straight at Brady.
Treaty were on top in the midfield battle and the home side surrendered possession deep in their own half before Colin Conroy tried a shot from distance which travelled just over the bar.
Cobh switched wing-backs with John Kavanagh moving to the left and Danny O’Connell moving to the right for the second half and the home side started the second half with more intensity and ambition. O’Connell drove at the Treaty defence and his early effort was gathered by Brady. Midfielder Liam Hopkins played the lively O’Connell though on the left and after cutting inside, the wing-back smashed his effort against the crossbar with Jake Hegarty following up to tap home but Declan Toland gave a free-kick to Treaty.
Although Cobh were the better team in the second half, it was Treaty who doubled their lead as substitute Willie Armshaw who is known for his impact off the bench, capitalised on a mistake from Luke Desmond before slotting the ball beyond Barron.
With ten minutes remaining, substitute Beineon O’Brien-Whitmarsh sent Drinan away on the left and his cross was met by the head of O’Connell who forced a good save from Brady. Treaty failed to clear a late cross from Harlain Mbayo and O’Brien-Whitmarsh hit the top of the crossbar in what proved to be the last clear-cut chance of the game.
Treaty needed the victory as a response to Monday night’s defeat to Cork and are still level with Wexford following their 3-1 victory over Athlone. The teams are separated by goal difference as Treaty welcome Longford Town to the Markets Field next Friday evening.
Cobh Ramblers: Sean Barron, John Kavanagh, Ben O’Riordan, Brendan Frahill, Harlain Mbayo, Luke Desmond, Sean McGrath, Liam Hopkins (Beineon O’Brien-Whitmarsh 74), Jake Hegarty (Ciaran Griffin 52), Conor Drinan, Danny O’Connell (David Eguaibor 84)
Treaty United: Jack Brady, Jack Lynch, Sean Guerins, Callum McNamara, Marc Ludden, Lee Devitt, Martin Coughlan (Joel Coustrain 65), Colin Conroy(Willie Armshaw 65), Matt Keane (Josh Quinlivan 90+2), Steven Christopher, Dean George (Conor Melody 25)
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