Stoppage-time Keating goal seals dramatic win for Cork City over Treaty

Ruaini Keating in action against Steven Healy. Pic: Matt Browne/Sportsfile

LOI First Division: Cork City 1 (Ruairi Keating 90+1) Treaty United 0 

Bogey team Treaty United were finally slayed by Cork City as Ruairi Keating’s stoppage-time winner belatedly ignited their promotion tilt.

The Limerick side were the only team City failed to beat during the First Division title winning season of 2025 and they were heading for a fifth successive draw before 3,520 fans at a fraught Turner’s Cross.

Bravery from new manager Barry Robson – by substituting his two full-backs for attackers – paid off when youngster Cillian Murphy teed up Hans Mpongo to square for Keating.

His close-range agility enabled him to drill his shot into the net, albeit the ball rebounded off Jack Brady’s back over the line after it struck the post.

City’s target of another immediate return to the top-flight following relegation centred on retaining their finest talent.

Ruairi Keating's late goal ensured Robson made a winning start on City's return to the First Division.

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Alex Murphy, Sean Murray, Evan McLaughlin and Benno Couto departed – as did manager Ger Nash abruptly two days before Christmas – but his successor Robson was still able to name a starting line containing 10 of last year’s squad.

Cork’s marquee business of pre-season wasn’t a new arrival, rather brushing off interest from Premier champions Shamrock Rovers in Seáni Maguire.

An additional 12 months on his contract was the upshot of that saga, ensuring the 31-year-old will see out his career with another three years of service.

Had he been in the position that the one newcomer, Mpongo, was on 17 minutes, then this opener could have been a stress-free zone.

Josh Fitzpatrick’s dribbling runs provided some warmth for fans on a freezing night and from his first dash, the cross was laid on a plate for City’s new No 10 to convert. Instead of the ball, his outstretched leg connected with fresh air.

Ben Feeney of Treaty United holds off Conor Drinan. Pic: Matt Browne/Sportsfile

In truth, that breakthrough would have been unfair on the visitors considering the balance of play.

They were game in midfield, solid at the back and capable of stretching a City defence that began set up in a three-man unit.

Ben Feeney, one of their new signings, fashioned the best chances to silence what was a raucous home crowd. Midway through the half, he rattled the foot of the post by drilling a shot which left Conor Brann stationary. Six minutes from the interval, he again had the measure of the City goalkeeper by rising high from a short corner, only to glance his header wide.

Veteran defender Mark Walsh almost went close by whipping a shot past the post before Ray Lawlor fired straight at Brann when he was sent clear of the home defence.

City’s frontline of Keating and Maguire, which hadn’t started a game together for 11 months since the latter became the first injury victim of the double-act, simply couldn’t click.

Robson tinkered with the formation on a few occasions to engineer a spark, dropping Maguire deeper when the defensive line switched to a back four, but the fluency the pair are renowned for didn’t influence – until stoppage time.

It came about from nothing that resembled a siege.

City’s sluggishness persisted in the second half, allowing their Limerick visitors a couple more sights on goal.

Recent recruit Raphael Ohin, a Ghanian with Canadian citizenship, whisked his shot past the post before defender Darren Nwankwo couldn’t keep his header down from a corner.

Ever so slowly, City’s quality in attack began to tell. From a scramble in the box, Keating turned brilliantly without applying the accuracy to his shot which veered off-target.

Maguire did manage to test Brady in the Treaty goal with a low effort from an acute angle but the frustrations were reflected in The Shed by renewed protests and banners against club owner Dermot Usher.

Minutes later all that hostility was parked as fit-again Keating rediscovered the type of finish that makes him a fans’ favourite over two spells on Leeside.

CORK CITY: C Brann; R Feely (M Murray 80), C Lyons, F Kelleher, C Drinan (C Murphy 59); D Crowley, G Bolger; J Fitzpatrick, S Maguire, H Mpongo (M Kiernan 90+1); R Keating (J Oyenuga 81).

TREATY UNITED: J Brady; R Lynch, M Walsh, D Nwankwo, B Lynch; R Ohin, S Healy; M Murphy, C Curtis, B Feeney; R Lawlor (B Cunningham 62).

Referee: Daniel Murphy.

Attendance: 3,520