Cobh Ramblers beaten by Treaty United in promotion play-off

Treaty United 1 Cobh Ramblers 0 

Cobh Ramblers have it all to do in the promotion play-off semi-finals following a first leg defeat to Treaty United at the Markets Field on Friday evening.

The two teams will do it all over again next Tuesday at St Colman’s Park and the advantage is with Tommy Barrett’s side after Joseph Hanson’s header in the 77th minute in Limerick.

Richie Holland will be in charge once again, after taking over from Mick McDermott earlier this week following the coach’s departure from the Great Island.

There was no bedding in process as Treaty grabbed control of the game early on, with early chances falling to Lee Lynch and Richkov Boevi.

Lee Lynch got in again in the 27th minute, this time from close range. The midfielder’s effort was stopped by Timothy Martin and Cian Coleman cleaned up before someone in a blue and white jersey could get to it.

Their ‘trilogy’ was completed just 90 seconds later, expect Iestyn Hughes got in the way of the shot which allowed Martin to come out and safely catch the ball.

The Ramblers rarely threatened at the other end, despite some good work by Dylan McGlade and Cian Bargary. Cobh only really tested Corey Chambers once with this and that attempt by an overlapping Hughes was easily stopped at the near post in the 33rd minute.

At the other end, a hat-trick of chances fell to Mark Byrne in quick succession from the edge of the area. The first was blocked down, then Coleman knocked the ball away, and the burst finished with the ball rolling just wide.

It was scoreless at the break and the game restarted with the first prolonged attacking spell by Cobh.

Familiar problems persisted, as the forwards struggled to put something together that really tested the Treaty defence.

There was a free header from a McGlade corner and this moment of promise went harmlessly out of play in the 55th minute.

The Shannonsiders held firm before breaking with pace, an advance that led to a corner on the hour mark. This was sent to Lee Lynch, who saw a cross cleared to an unmarked Lee Devitt. The former Cobh midfielder went for goal with his right boot and saw his effort scrambled away by a flurry of claret and blue jerseys.

Gourdie responded in front of the travelling supporters, with a blistering strike that went just over the bar after Bargary knocked it on.

At this point, it was very much a stalemate as both teams were struggling in attack while making sure nothing was given away in defence.

The Ramblers didn’t give in to the growing sense of tension, instead they continued to attack with Bargary seeing a header go wide and a curling shot in the crossbar.

Holland and his coaching team then went to the bench and their first change of the night saw a straight away between Samuel Bellis and McGlade.

There was no time to settle as Hanson was able to get in and guide in a Mark Byrne cross at the back post in the 77th minute.

Matthew Whelan was brought on to lead a rescue mission as Cobh pushed forward in a rejigged 4-4-2 formation instead of their traditional 4-2-3-1 with Cian Murphy as the lone striker.

There were penalty shouts and cross into the box, but nothing landed. It finished as a ‘to be continued’ with talk immediately turning to next Tuesday after the full-time whistle in Limerick.

TREATY UNITED: Corey Chambers; Richkov Boevi, Benjamin Lynch, Eoin Martin, Evan O’Connor, Karl O’Sullivan, Mark Byrne, Colin Conroy, Lee Devitt, Lee Lynch, Patrick Ferry.

Subs: Joseph Hanson for Ferry (60); Ben Lee for Lee Lynch (89).

COBH: Timothy Martin; Iestyn Hughes, Cian Coleman, Jonas Hakkinen, Shane Griffin, Niall O’Keeffe, Rhys Gourdie, Cian Bargary, Barry Coffey, Dylan McGlade, Cian Murphy.

Subs: Samuel Bellis for McGlade (72); Matthew Whelan for Gourdie (83).

Referee: Oliver Moran