Eoin Martin finds the extra against Cobh Ramblers as Treaty United book place in promotion decider
First Division promotion play-off semi-final second leg: Cobh Ramblers 1-1 Treaty United AET (Treaty win 2-1 on aggregate)
Eoin Martin got the winner for Treaty United. Photo: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Eoin Martin got the winner as Treaty United qualified for the First Division play-off final with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Cobh Ramblers, with the second leg finishing as a 1-1 draw AET.
Matthew Whelan forced extra-time with an equaliser at the death for the home side and the visitors had the last laugh with a close-range finish.
The Shannonsiders are now two games away from playing Premier Division football, after qualifying for the play-offs on the final day with a victory over Wexford at Ferrycarrig Park.
Treaty United played with no pressure, while holding onto a lead earned through a Joseph Hanson header in the first leg.
That involved early chances for Lee Lynch and Karl O’Sullivan, but nothing really tested the Cobh defence.
The Ramblers made a go for it in the second half, with their best chance to equalise including a blistering Niall O’Keeffe strike in the 63rd minute.
Cobh eventually changed shape, moving from a 4-2-3-1 to 3-4-3 to 4-4-2 in the dying seconds.
Their reward for persistence was Whelan squeezing the ball in with a low strike after Shane Griffin headed it on in the second minute of four added on.
The release and roar was quickly followed by regret as an attempted break in extra-time was met with a clearance and a low pass to Eoin Martin.
The defender held his composure and managed to side foot the ball in, to send Treaty through to the final.
Cobh Ramblers: Timothy Martin; Iestyn Hughes (Samuel Bellis 63), Cian Coleman (John O’Donovan 37), Jonas Hakkinen, Shane Griffin, Niall O’Keeffe (Shane Griffin 73)(Nolan Evers 98), Harvey Cribb (Rhys Gourdie HT), Cian Bargary (Matthew Whelan 73), Barry Coffey, Dylan McGlade, Cian Murphy.
Treaty United: Corey Chambers; Richkov Boevi, Benjamin Lynch, Eoin Martin, Evan O’Connor, Karl O’Sullivan, Mark Byrne, Colin Conroy ( Steven Healy 98), Lee Devitt, Lee Lynch (Ben Lee 77), Joseph Hanson (Fionn Doherty 70).
Referee: Oliver Moran
