Brendan Frahill's last-minute goal from a Jack Doherty corner made sure that Cobh Ramblers beat Treaty United 1-0 at St Colman’s Park.
That decided a fixture that was evenly fought between two Munster rivals that were meeting for the fifth time this season.
It was Cobh’s first home game since beating Cork City in the Munster Senior Cup final and Shane Keegan’s team were welcomed by a large crowd that saw a ball deflect into the path of Mikie Rowe in just the second minute.
The Galway United loanee had to watch as his tame effort was caught by Corey Chambers, and his next attempt was also stopped by the Treaty shot-stopper.
This claret and blue rush faded into a battle for possession that Treaty won through some excellent control by Dean George and Stephen Christopher.
Their first chance came from a cross to Success Edogun at the near post, and Lee Steacy caught this with ease. The next time the striker got into a similar position, the Cobh goalkeeper instantly reacted to push the ball onto the crossbar.
Treaty were playing with a sense of confidence, with the same sense of energy that they used to stage a late fightback to claim a point against Waterford FC on Monday at the Markets Field. That withered in the closing minutes of the first half, and it was goal-less at the break at St Colman’s Park.
Cobh showed a lot more composure up front once the game restarted but they were unable to get through and really test the Treaty defence. They did win a free-kick, and this was plucked out of the air by Chambers in the 46th minute.
Any attempt to release Doherty was in vain as the forward was man marked by two defenders, and he had no room to run with the ball.
Then Colin Conroy broke and the Cobh defence managed to wrestle back control in the final third of the pitch with a perfectly executed sliding challenge by Tiernan O’Brien.
When Cobh tried to counter attack, Luke Desmond and Doherty went for goal inside the area. The Treaty defence stitched themselves together to clear the ball while the fans shouted over a potential handball.
The referee waved this on and Cobh won a free-kick that Charlie Lyons tried to break down to Wilson Waweru. Chambers came off his line and beat the striker to the ball inside a penalty area in the 75th minute.
Everything led to Doherty’s in-swinging corner in the fifth minute of added time and Frahill turned this in at the Liam McMahon Stand. The scores of fans rejoiced, despite having to endure a last second Treaty free-kick that came to nothing.
Cobh Ramblers: Lee Steacy; Cian Browne, Justin Eguaibor (Michael McCarthy 79), Brendan Frahill, Wilson Waweru (Matthew McKevitt 88), Jack Doherty, Mikie Rowe, Dale Holland (Luke Desmond 58), Tiernan O’Brien (Adrian Thibuat 78), Jason Abbott (Alec Byrne 88).
Treaty United: Corey Chambers; Ben O’Riordan, Marc Ludden, Lee Devitt, Sean Patrick Guerins, Dean O’Shea (William Armshaw 81), Success Edogun, Dean George (Scott Kirkland 90), Stephen Christopher (Conor Barry 67), Colin Conroy (Adam Lennon 81), Darren Nwankwo.
Referee: Alan Patchell
Elsewhere, Second-placed Waterford were surprised 2-1 at home by Athlone Town, who tightened their grip on fourth.
All the goals came between the 13th and 16th minutes. Dylan Gavin gave the visitors the lead, Roland Idowu levelled and then Frantz Pierrot immediately struck for what proved to be the winner.
Play-off chasers Wexford were held 1-1 by Finn Harps. Darragh Levingston gave the hosts the lead in the 70th minute and they looked good for the win when Ryan Rainey was sent off for the Donegal side.
However, Seamas Keogh struck for an injury-time equaliser.
Bray Wanderers won 3-1 at Kerry FC, who finished with 10 men after Cian Barrett was shown two yellows in the first half, when it was one apiece, Sean McGrath cancelling out Yousef Mahdy's opener.
Mahdy added a second in the 64th minute, shortly before Darren Craven made the points safe as Bray closed to within four of fifth-placed Wexford..
