Devitt scores twice: Treaty United defeats Cobh Ramblers in the First Division

RESILENT Treaty United secured an impressive 3-0 victory over Cobh Ramblers in a rare Munster derby in the SSE Airtricity League First Division at St. Colman’s Park on Monday evening.

With this result, Treaty overtakes Cobh and now occupies seventh place in the league table, ending their run of five games without a win.

Cobh’s disappointing streak has now grown to five defeats in a row and the team has slipped to eighth place.

Highly touted teenage goalkeeper Michael Dike made his first league appearance since April, replacing the suspended Corey Chambers.

Dike joined Treaty in the starting line-up alongside Nikodem Kozlowski, Alec Byrne, David Tarmey, Leon Kirrane and Chris Horgan.

Academy players Adam Brennan and Scott Murphy sat on the bench for the first time.

Robbie Lynch had to sit out due to injury.

Treaty’s promising young goalkeeper Dike had to intervene after just two minutes when Matthew McKevitt forced him into a good save.

The Shannonsiders’ first chance came in the 10th minute when Lee Devitt forced Darragh Burke in the Rams’ goal to make a good save after a successful move.

Twelve minutes later, Devitt had more luck when Darragh Burke attempted to clear a through ball that only found its way to the Treaty midfielder. Devitt then skilfully chipped the ball over the helpless goalkeeper and into the Cobh goal.

Four minutes later, Cobh almost equalised, but Dike came to their aid again.

James O’Leary linked up with McKevitt, who fired another low shot, forcing the teenager into a diving save.

Treaty looked dangerous on every attack and had half-chances through David Tarmey and Lee Lynch, but Devitt came closest to doubling his and the visitors’ goal.

In the 36th minute, the midfielder won the ball on the edge of the penalty area and then smashed it towards the goal, where it hit the crossbar.

McKevitt tried again in the 40th minute, but his arcing shot from the edge of the box forced Dike to run towards his post, but the shot went harmlessly wide.

Treaty suffered a setback early in the second half when Lee Lynch was forced off injured, but Tommy Barrett’s side made a perfect start and extended their lead within 90 seconds of the restart.

David Tarmey got behind the Rams defence with a superb turn. His shot was well saved by Burke but nineteen-year-old Niko Kozlowski slotted home the rebound to score his first first-team goal.

First-half goalscorer Devitt attempted to repeat his feat in the 56th minute, but his lob from 35 yards went just over the bar, to the relief of a stranded Burke.

Both sides made tentative attempts over the next quarter of an hour as Treaty looked to consolidate their position. Cobh came closest to scoring in the 78th minute when McKevitt and Larkin combined again, but the latter’s shot went just over the bar.

The game was decided in the 81st minute when Devitt scored his deserved second goal.

The midfielder received a long ball, got past his opponent and fired a powerful shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Two minutes later, Devitt found himself in the same situation and latched onto a long ball behind the Cobh defence, but Burke dived to save and deny his hat-trick.

The result means Barrett’s men could still mathematically qualify for the play-offs as they are 11 points behind Wexford, who are bottom of the table with four games to play.

Next up for the Shannonsiders is a visit to second-to-last Longford at Market’s Field on Friday. Cobh, meanwhile, travel to Athlone.

Cobh Ramblers: Darragh Burke, Michael McCarthy (Nolan Evers 75), Brendan Frahill, Dean Larkin, Matthew McKevitt, Jack Larkin, James O’Leary, David Eguaibor (David Bosnjak 67), Regix Madika, Luka Le Bervet, Jason Abbott.

Contract unites: Michael Dike, Oisin O’Reilly, Lee Devitt (Adam O’Halloran 88), Lee Lynch (Colin Conroy 45), Niko Kozlowski (Steven Healy 55), Alec Byrne, David Tarmey (Yoyo Mahdy 68), Evan O’Connor, Richkov Boevi, Leon Kirrane (Trpimir Vrljicak 55), Christy Horgan.

Referee: Glen Geraghty.