Dundalk surrender two-goal lead at home to Treaty United

Two goals in the last four minutes left Dundalk to consider what might have been as Treaty United secured an unexpected 2-2 draw in an eventful SSE Airtricity League First Division encounter at Oriel Park.

Daryl Horgan of Dundalk in action against Colin Conroy of Treaty United during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Dundalk and Treaty United at Oriel Park in Dundalk, Louth. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Dean Ebbe scored after 27 minutes before Aodh Dervin doubled Dundalk’s lead with ten minutes remaining, but Treaty halved the deficit after 86 minutes when goalkeeper Peter Cherrie allowed Eoin Martin’s effort to roll into the net, and then Lee Devitt secured a share of the spoils in the last minute of regulation.

Injuries had forced Dundalk to shuffle their rearguard as goalkeeper Enda Minogue and defenders Conor O’Keeffe and Mayowa Animasahun both missed out - whilst winger Leo Gaxha was serving the first of a two-match ban after receiving a straight red card against Kerry last week.

Dundalk’s first effort on goal came after 17 minutes when Harry Groome’s shot from outside the box was deflected wide by Colin Conroy. From the subsequent corner, delivered by Seán Keogh, Eoin Kenny’s header bounced up and flew wide of the post.

At the opposite end, the first sign of danger from Treaty came when Devitt’s shot across goal had Cherrie - in what was his first league outing since 2022 - at full stretch. Kenny then came close from another Keogh corner for the home side, before Connor Wilson fired over from the edge of the area for the visitors.

But it was Dundalk who broke the deadlock on 27 minutes when Dervin, operating at right-full, delivered a beautifully weighted set-piece into the penalty area which caused confusion in the Treaty defence and allowed Daryl Horgan to nod the ball back into the danger zone, where the Ebbe rose to guide a header home.

Looking to extend their advantage before the break, a quick move saw Horgan find Kenny at the back post – but he could only fire wide. For Treaty, Devitt’s free kick was easily gathered by Cherrie, while at the other end both Dervin and Horgan found themselves in promising positions, yet their efforts failed to trouble Corey Chambers in the Treaty goal.

In the second half, Treaty substitute Robbie Lynch had a shot that was comfortably collected by Cherrie, but Devitt came much closer soon afterwards from Karl O’Sullivan’s set-up. In response, Keogh lifted a free-kick attempt wide of the target after Horgan had been fouled by Steven Healy, while substitute Norman Garbett also had an effort go wide of the mark.

Indeed, Dundalk looked to have secured their fourth successive win ten minutes from time when Dervin’s long-range free-kick evaded everyone including Treaty goalkeeper Chambers.

But Treaty were to have the last laugh as Martin’s shot from range was fumbled into his own net by Cherrie, before Devitt, from a Martin punt up the pitch headed home a dramatic equaliser.

Dundalk FC: Peter Cherrie; Aodh Dervin, Vinnie Leonard, Seán McHale, Seán Keogh (Seán Spaight 90+1); Harry Groome, Andy Paraschiv (Norman Garbett 63) (Gbemi Arubi 72); Eoin Kenny, Keith Ward (Luke Mulligan 63), Daryl Horgan; Dean Ebbe.

Subs not used: Samuel Safaei (GK), TJ Molloy-Murray and Shane Tracey.

Treaty United FC: Corey Chambers; Evan O’Connor, Mark Walsh (Robbie Lynch HT), Eoin Martin, Richkov Boevi; Colin Conroy (Benjamin Lee 81), Connor Wilson (Steven Healy 61); Mark Byrne (Yousef Mahdy 61), Lee Devitt, Karl O’Sullivan; Trpimir Vrljicak (Niko Kozlowski 81).

Subs not used: Carl Williams (GK), Joe Hanson, Roy Lawlor and Christopher Horgan.

Referee: Darragh White (Dublin).