Match Report: City 4-0 Treaty United

A second half spectacle saw Cork City run away 4-0 winners against Treaty United at Turner’s Cross, courtesy of goals from Ruairi Keating and Cillian Murphy either side of a Hans Mpongo double. A seventh consecutive victory and sixth consecutive clean sheet sees the Rebel Army extend their lead to 15 points at the top of the First Division table. The crowd of 2105, which was added to by internationals such as Jaden Umeh of Ireland (and formerly CCFC) and a strong contingent of Brazilian fans in the Donie Forde Stand, were treated to a flurry of action at the Shed End on a sun-swept night on Leeside. 

KICK OFF: 

Seani Maguire returned to action following a four-game absence as Barry Robson made three changes to the team that won in Wexford last week. Darragh Crowley was back in midfield after suspension and Ruairi Keating slotted back into the frontline as AJ Bridge and Matthew Murray dropped to the bench while Fiacre Kelleher missed out through injury. Tommy Barrett, meanwhile, made one alteration to the side that drew with Bray, as Steven Healy came in for Eric Yoro. 

City’s first attempt came after 80 seconds when Hans Mpongo teed up Conor Drinan at the edge of the penalty area, but the full back’s outswinging effort curled wide of the far post. Treaty then came close themselves when Ben Feeney latched onto a ball over the top and knocked it over Conor Brann but only for Charlie Lyons to recover well and hook it off the line. 

The visitors had another couple of shots midway through the first half, City requiring a sliding block from Donal O’Connor to deny Cian Curtis and a save from Brann to stop Robbie Lynch after a mazy dribble. Their best chance came after half an hour when a clever turn from Jason Oyenuga set him in on goal, but the finish went over. Minutes later, O’Connor made a vital recovery tackle to prevent Curtis from shooting from close range. 

The Rebel Army’s best chance of the half fell to Mpongo following a ricochet from Maguire’s effort. A last-ditch block from Lynch, however, denied what looked to be a goalbound strike. Moments later, Maguire tested Kevin Fitzpatrick with a low side-footed effort from the edge of the box, but the Treaty keeper was equal to it. The Leesiders’ brightest spell came in the moments before the break but it remained scoreless. 

Second 45: 

A much more energetic and aggressive start to the second half brought its rewards for Cork City. Ten minutes after the restart, two of the team’s most in-form men of recent weeks combined when Mpongo picked the ball up on the left wing, took a few touches in towards the box and delivered a precise cross on to the head of Ruari Keating. City’s #9 diverted it cooly inside the near post at the Shed End, making it five goals in his last four games. 

Having had little to cheer in the opening 45 minutes, the home crowd were barely finished celebrating the first when they were brought to their feet once more. Less than three minutes after the game had kicked off again, Cillian Murphy won back possession in his own half with a slide tackle, collected the loose ball and carried it forward, knocking it beyond two opposition players in the process before winning a 50/50 contest with a third. The 16-year-old then slipped it through to Mpongo who, faced with a one-on-one, rifled it into the roof of the net to double the lead. The Dutchman then rushed over to celebrate with the Brazilian contingent in the stands, showing off his own Samba moves. 

The Joga Bonito spirit had taken over the Cross as, just five minutes later, it was time for some more carnival feeling. This time it was Matthew Murray, who replaced Maguire on the hour, to dance past the opposition before teeing up Mpongo. Having worked hard to win the ball back inside the Treaty half, the 18-year-old drove forward into the box, outmuscling the challenging defender, and put it on a plate for the Dutchman to do the rest from close range. It was back over to the Brazilian corner for some more Samba-style celebrations.  

It was almost an instant fourth, but Murphy’s effort across the face of goal struck the post and Crowley’s follow-up sailed over. The Irish youth international would go home with more than just an assist to his name, though, getting himself on the scoresheet too with five minutes to play. Receiving the ball from AJ Bridge some 40 yards from goal, Murphy dribbled forward into the penalty area, leaving a succession of Treaty bodies in his wake, before cutting it neatly across the keeper into the bottom-left corner. The City academy product added the Man of the Match award to cap off a successful night and a first senior goal at Turner’s Cross. It’s now back-to-back 4-0 home wins for the Rebel Army, with Bray Wanderers to come next Friday night. 

Final Score: Cork City 4 Treaty United 0. 

Cork City (4-2-3-1): Conor Brann, Niall O’Keeffe, Donal O’Connor, Charlie Lyons (Luke Downey ’70), Conor Drinan, Darragh Crowley, Greg Bolger (AJ Bridge ‘67), Cillian Murphy, Seani Maguire© (Matthew Murray ‘60), Hans Mpongo, Ruairi Keating.  

Treaty United (4-4-2): Kevin Fitzgerald, Mark Byrne (Eric Yoro ’68), Robbie Lynch Darren Nwanko, Benjamin Lynch©, Ronan Manning (Raphael Ohin ‘65), Steven Healy (Colin Conroy ‘65), Mark Murphy, Jason Oyenuga (Roy Lawlor ‘65), Ben Feeney, Cian Curtis (Jevontae Layne ‘80).