TREATY UNITED had something to celebrate on Friday night as they came from behind to beat Finn Harps 2-1 at the Markets Field.
In a season short on consistency, Billy Regan’s second-half winner secured three points for the Shannon-siders, adding a positive note to a difficult week for football in Limerick. For Finn Harps, already bottom of the league, the night offered little consolation.
Harps captain Tony McNamee registered the opening attempt, comfortably gathered by the “Superblues” goalkeeper and captain Jack Brady. The visitors looked the more threatening early on as the Limerick side struggled to build rhythm, with long balls dominating the opening exchanges.
Colin Conroy provided some of the home side’s brighter moments, sending balls forward, one of which found top scorer Cian Curtis. Curtis’ involvement led to a chance for Ben Feeney, but his effort failed to trouble Corey Sheridan in net.
Harps broke the deadlock just before half-time. Oran Brogan went down after contact with Curtis, but advantage was played and Aaron McLaughlin slipped beyond the Treaty defence before finding the net.
Treaty responded almost immediately. A misplaced long ball found Regan beyond halfway, with the ball falling to Feeney. The forward fired through Sheridan’s legs to restore parity in first-half stoppage time.
At the hour mark, manager Tommy Barrett introduced Colm Whelan and Ronan Manning. The changes brought fresh energy, and with just under half an hour remaining Whelan kept a long ball alive before Manning returned it into the box, finding Regan’s head. His finish sent the Markets Field into celebration.
Harps pushed for an equaliser and came close when Ciaron Harkin’s cross threatened to catch Brady out, but the Treaty captain reacted quickly to tip it over.
The final whistle confirmed Treaty’s ninth win of the season, although chants from sections of the home support reflected the frustration surrounding a difficult campaign.
Treaty United return to the Markets Field on October 2 when UCD make the trip to Limerick.
Elsewhere Around The League
Cobh Ramblers and Athlone Town drew 3-3, while Kerry FC beat Wexford 1-0. Bray Wanderers strengthened their play-off position with a 3-1 win over UCD, while champions Cork City lost 2-1 to Longford Town.
Treaty United
#1 – Jack Brady (C), #5 – Billy Regan (67′ goal), #8 – Colin Conroy, #9 – Cian Curtis, #10 – Roy Lawlor (59′ Colm Whelan), #11 – Mark Byrne (59′ Ronan Manning), #15 – Ben Feeney (45+1′ goal; 84′ Richkov Boevi), #18 – Jason Oyenuga (84′ Dare Kareem), #27 – Robbie Lynch, #29 – Kyle Foley, #44 – Kilian Cantwell
Substitutes: Killian Fitzpatrick, Richkov Boevi, Steven Healy, Eric Yoro, Brian Cunningham, Mark Walsh, Ronan Manning, Colm Whelan, Dare Kareem.
Finn Harps
#1 – Corey Sheridan, #5 – Oran Brogan (38′ yellow card; 77′ Adam McDaid), #6 – Joel Bradley-Walsh, #7 – Bernardo Dos Santos Monteiro (85′ Charlie Bonner), #8 Max Hutchinson, #10 – Tony McNamee (C) (79′ Bridel Bosakani), #14 – Darragh Coyle, #18 – Ciaron Harkin (77′ Adam McDaid), #23 – Finn McKenlay, #28 – Aaron McLaughlin (44′ goal; 78′ Guilherme Rego Priosti), #34 – James McAteer
Substitutes: Lorenzo Piai Barbosa, Ronan Ferns, Bridel Bosakani, Conor McGranaghan, Guilherme Rego Priosti, Adam McDaid, Troy Preston, Charlie Bonner.