Late goals ensure Dundalk and Treaty United share the spoils

Two late goals for both sides saw Dundalk and Treaty having to settle for a point at Oriel Park. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile.

Dundalk 1 Treaty United 1

Two late goals for both sides saw Dundalk and Treaty having to settle for a point at Oriel Park.

Dundalk were on course for the victory in a tense affair with Harry Groomes' goal looking to be the winner. However, a late strike in added-on time from Mark Walsh ensured Treaty got a share of the spoils.

Dundalk dominated the early stages of the contest with a series of chances, the best of which fell to Eoin Kenny in the opening minute but his header just flashed wide.

Richkov Boevi forced a save from Dundalk keeper Enda Minogue in the 14th minute as the away side almost scored from a set piece against the run of play.

Dundalk continued to press but were left to rue missed chances with the front three of Ebbe, Gaxha and Kenny all having sights on goal.

Before the end of the first half, Eoin Kenny once again had a chance that went wide before Lee Devitt struck the side netting for the visitors in the next phase of attacking play.

Sean McHale sent a header over the bar in the opening period of the second half as the Treaty defence continued to hold firm before they had two excellent chances in quick succession.

Karl O’Sullivan’s goal-bound effort was deflected for a corner, and from that set piece, Aodh Dervin had to produce a vital goal-line clearance.

It looked as if Leo Gahxa had finally made the breakthrough for Dundalk from a breaking run down the right, but the Dundalk winger's low effort went inches past the post with Chambers well beaten.

Dundalk were to finally find the net in the 85th minute when a Keith Ward corner was not cleared, with the ball picked up by Paraschiv on the second phase of play, he laid it into the path of Harry Groome, whose first-time effort flew to the back of the net.

It looked as if the three points would remain in Oriel only for one last attack from the away side earned them a draw.

Mark Walsh was to latch onto the ball in the Dundalk area and struck a low effort that got past Minogue and crept into the corner of the net to ensure it was honours even.

Elsewhere Athlone Town and Finn Harps played out a scoreless draw, Longford Town were 1-0 winners in Wexford while a Barry Coffey brace helped Cobh Ramblers secure a 3-0 victory away at UCD to close the gap to Dundalk at the top to just four points.

Dundalk: Minogue, McHale, Dervin, Horgan, Groome, Ebbe (Ward 76), Gaxha, Mulligan, Leonard, Kenny, Tracey (Paraschiv 68).

Treaty United: Chambers, Boevi, Devitt, Conroy (Healy 80), Maddy, Kozlowski (Lawlor 67), O’Connor, Walsh, Murphy (Willson 67), Martin, O’Sullivan.

Referee: Lucas Keating.