Joe Hanson's header gives Treaty United slender advantage over Cobh Ramblers
HALF TIME: Cian Bargary and Benjamin Lynch fighting for possession. Pic: Brendan Gleeson.
Treaty United’s Canadian investment and alignment has had its detractors but Joe Hanson’s header has given the club its best moment by bagging the winner in this First Division Play-Off semi-final against favourites Cobh Ramblers.
From Whitehorse in Canada, few would have predicted the 22-year-old as the match winner, especially given he had netted just twice in his previous nineteen appearances for the Limerick side.
Far from first choice, his introduction on the hour mark was after diminutive attacker Patrick Ferry hobbled off. It turned out to be an inspired choice, with the attacking options somewhat threadbare for Treaty.
For Cobh, Richie Holland replaced Michael McDermott in recent days, with the Bandon native in charge for at least the play-off series. The visitors played second fiddle for long-periods, which went firmly against the gap that was seen between these sides in the First Division table.
For Tommy Barrett - the Treaty boss - it is a third foray into the play-offs with United, while he also had relegation play-off woes when in charge of Limerick FC. He has seen his side trailing from the first leg on all previous occasions. A first win will give him a welcomed dilemma heading into the second leg.
There was twenty-one points between these sides in the First Division table, with last week’s away win in Wexford securing the Shannonsiders fifth spot. The Cork club had suffered back-to-back defeats to conclude the season, as the news of McDermott’s departure arrived.
The home side started with great impetus, with the Mark Byrne and Richkov Boevi close to scrambling home captain Lee-J Lynch’s third minute cross. Boevi was outstanding at the back in securing a precious shutout for Corey Chambers.
Byrne then turned provider for Lynch, whose drilled effort from outside the area was tipped around the post by keeper Timmy Martin. The same combination came close just three minutes later, on 27 minutes.
During this frantic period, Cian Bargary teed up Rhys Gourdie at the other end. He saw a diving Treaty defender block the ball clear. There certainly a sense of occasion and importance which was often felt lacking at the Garryowen venue this season.
A plethora of openings and sustained pressure was the order of the day from Barrett’s men, who just couldn’t make it count.
Cian Coleman diverted a header wide in the opening ten minutes of the second period, as the league runners-up began to assert themselves. On the hour mark, Patrick Ferry hobbled off, which was a blow to the misfiring but hard-working United attack.
Top scorer Lee Devitt was next to try his luck as he attempted to poke the ball beyond Martin. This sparked the home support, who came out in their droves, into full voice. 1,849 paid into see this enthralling contest.
However, it was Gourdie who went close at the other end – blasting narrowly over. Next it was Bargary, who curled left footed onto the frame of the goal – as the game somehow remained scoreless after seventy minutes of action.
Iestyn Hughes thundered wide from distance as the Rams were unable to unlock a deep lying Treaty rearguard.
But then up went Hanson, the Canadian getting a superb leap at the back post to meet Mark Byrne’s cross with his head, from inside the six-yard box.
The second leg takes place at St. Coleman’s Park next Tuesday, with the previous meetings on the artificial surface going the way of the home team.
C Chambers; E O’Connor, E Martin, R Boevi, B Lynch; C Conroy, L Devitt; K O’Sullivan, L Lynch (C) (B Lee 89), M Byrne; P Ferry (J Hanson 60).
T Martin; I Hughes, C Coleman, J Hakkinen, S Griffin (C); C Bargary, R Gourdie (M Whelan 83), N O’Keeffe, D McGlade (S Bellis 72); B Coffey; C Murphy.
Oliver Moran.
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