Finn Harps pay the penalty as they lose out to Treaty United

Treaty United scored an impressive victory over Finn Harps in the SSE Airtricity League First Division in front of an attendance of 674 at the Markets Field.

Fourth-placed Harps made the long journey south for their third trip to Munster in as many weeks, having endured consecutive 1-0 away defeats to Cork City and would suffer the same fate in Limerick, with Enda Curran's penalty the only foal of the game.

The first chance of the game fell to the home side in the 17th minute as Treaty had not one but two shots cleared off the goal-line in immediate succession as a long throw fell to Curran at the back post. However, his effort was somehow kept out by the Harps defence.

Four minutes later, Treaty again had a flurry of chances that somehow stayed out. Curran got on the end of a Mark Byrne cross to force a reflex save from Timo Hiemer before following up with two rebound shots which Hiemer was equal to.

Lee Devitt then headed over as Harps scrambled to keep the ball out. In the 25th minute, Hiemer was again called to action as Byrne and Lee Lynch linked up well to split the Harps' defence before the latter unleashed a shot that was palmed clear.

Just two minutes later, Curran had the latest Treaty chance as he deftly touched down Lynch’s inch-perfect cross before dragging his placed effort inches past the post and the well-beaten Hiemer. Devitt was next to have a go but he dragged his freekick well wide.

On the stroke of half-time, Harps almost took the lead in their first decent chance of the game. An in-swinging corner found its way to the unmarked Matt Makinson but the defender's header flew narrowly wide.

Harps' Sean Patton forced a good save from Corey Chambers shortly after the restart when Treaty midfielder Stephen Christopher played himself into trouble presenting the Harps attacker with the opportunity. However, his effort was straight at Chambers.

The home side took a deserved lead in the 50th minute as Matt Makinson fouled Mark Byrne in the penalty area. A composed Curran stepped up and rifled the spot kick to the back of the net.

Harps tried to respond with half chances through David Cawley, Ryan Rainey, and Max Hutchinson, but all proved fruitless as the Ballybofey side continued to struggle to build momentum.

Patton again tried his luck in the 85th minute, but he blasted his effort from a tight angle narrowly wide and into the side netting. Moments later, Jamie Watson went close to an equaliser with a flicked-on long throw before a late Harps free kick was blocked by the Treaty.

From the resulting flurry, Thomas Considine broke upfield for Treaty but he dragged his effort wide.

Treaty United: Corey Chambers; Mark Byrne, Stephen Christopher (Thomas Considine 82), Enda Curran (Yoyo Mahdy 71), Lee Devitt; Fionn Doherty, Steven Healy, Lee Lynch, Robbie Lynch; Evan O’Connor, Ben O’Riordan.
Finn Harps: Tim Hiemer; Jamie Watson, Matthew Makinson, Conor Tourish, Luke O’Brien (Patrick Ferry 60); David Cawley (Max Hutchison 79), Tony McNamee; Gavin Gilmore (Ryan Rainey 60), Gavin McAteer (Stephen Doherty 60),Success Edogun (Aaron McLaughlin 79); Sean Patton.
Referee: Rob Hennessy.