Both sides scored goal-of-the-season contenders in an even contest
Cork City 1
Treaty United 1
Coming into the game, both teams knew they’d have little to play for. Cork City had wrapped up the league title long before Treaty United came rolling into Turner’s Cross, with the visitors unable to make the playoffs.
The only thing at stake was pride, in the way of winning the ‘season series’. Tommy Barrett’s side had previously played out three draws with the Rebel County outfit.
To that end, the Shannonsiders struck first, and struck early, through Lee Lynch’s second goal for the club in nine games. A rocket of a shot to the top left corner after a failed Cork clearance gave Treaty the lead within the first two minutes.
It was a nip-and-tuck start to the game, with chances at both ends but none as clear cut as either side would like. The frantic pace was an enjoyable watch but did eventually settle after the quarter-hour mark.
It seemed to coincide with the early injury suffered by Lee Lynch, giving Treaty’s midfield less creativity and experience. This gave the hosts a chance to control the game in that area, something they were unable to take advantage of.
Lee Devitt almost doubled the United lead, trying to dink Wade after his shocking pass went straight to the midfielder’s feet. The scrambling Wade tipped the effort wide of his left post, sparing his blushes.
Oisin O’Reilly set up Devitt once more with half an hour played, whipping a fantastic deep cross. Unfortunately for Treaty – another chance went begging as Devitt’s header was sent wide of the mark.
Nikodem Kozlowski was sent in behind the City defence mere moments later, with a cooly slotted through ball from Mahdy. The young forward cut it back onto his left foot but struck his effort straight at Wade.
City did threaten to level matters once more, with Malik Dijksteel receiving Ruari Keating’s pass into space on the left. His powerful effort was met by the hands of Chambers, who made a diving save to his left.
That was the last major chance of the half, ensuring Lee Lynch’s stunner sent United into the break with a 1-0 lead over City.
From the restart, the Turner’s Cross side applied more pressure on to their structured visitors. As the following five minutes were about to elapse, Cork should have found their leveller.
A cross to the back post from the right-wing was flapped at by Chambers, controlled by Keating and squared to Maguire, but the former Preston striker skewed his effort wide.
As the Rebels continued to grow into the game, Dijksteel weaved his way in from space on the left, but his curled finish couldn’t work its way inside the right post. Maguire followed with an effort from a tighter angle left-sided in the box, but Chambers closed the gap to block the shot with his body.
Treaty continued to cede possession to City and with an hour played, the lead was under attack from the champions elect. With 25 minutes to go, substitute Evan McLaughlin flashed an effort over the Treaty goal as the ball was played back to him inside the United area.
Dijksteel once more spurned a chance to bring City level, with another effort being saved by Chambers. It was becoming a worry for home fans, seeing many typically deadly players perform so profligately, Dijksteel chief among them.
The Cork prayers were finally answered and worries put to bed, as with fifteen minutes to play, another screamer was scored, this one courtesy of Cork captain Cian Coleman.
A corner from the right wing sailed into the Treaty box, which was thundered home on the volley by Coleman into the top left corner, leaving Chambers rooted between the posts.
Late on, approaching the 90th minute, Tripimir Vrljicak spun his marker inside the Cork area for a rare second-half Treaty chance. The Croatian tried to finesse an effort into the bottom-right corner but was denied by Wade.
The game limped into its final minutes after the City equaliser, with the sides sharing the spoils for a fourth and final time this season.
Player of the Match: Corey Chambers (Treaty United)
Treaty United: Corey Chambers (Michael Dike, 85’), Christopher Horgan, Evan O’Connor, Richkov Boevi, Oisin O’Reilly, Lee Devitt, Lee Lynch (Nikodem Kozlowski, 15’, then subbed for Adam O’Halloran 85’), Colin Conroy, Yoyo Mahdy (Mark Walsh, 69’), Tripimir Vrljicak (David Tarmey, 85’), Steven Healy.
Cork City: Bradley Wade, Joshua Fitzpatrick, Cian Coleman, Charlie Lyons, Matthew Kiernan, Arran Healy (Evan McLaughlin, 60’), Sean Murray (Greg Bolger, 60’), Cian Bargary (Cathal O’Sullivan, 60’), Malik Dijksteel (David Dunne, 74’), Sean Maguire, Ruari Keating.