Treaty United cruised into quarter-finals of the Sports Direct FAI Cup as they made light work of neighbours Pike Rovers at the Markets Field.
The result was in no doubt by the break, with the League of Ireland outfit leading by four before Lee Devitt went on to complete his hat-trick just 90 seconds into the second half – with the margin of victory eventually extending to seven on the night.
This was just the second FAI Cup meeting between two sides based in Limerick, and the first to feature two clubs from the city.
Limerick City beat Newcastle West back in 1987 – although it was hardly much of a rivalry given the sides shared mutual supporters who frequented both teams' games.
Friday night’s clash brought a slightly different dynamic to the fore. Over the years, Limerick has been divided spiritually when it comes to football.
The city’s League of Ireland representation fluctuated massively in terms of success – often languishing at the foot of the second tier, while many of Limerick’s best players opted to ply their trade in junior ranks.
So the theory that playing for Limerick FC, Limerick 37 or whatever moniker they were fielding at a given time was the height of your domestic ambition was rightly contested when Pike Rovers were among the best junior sides in the nation.
It’s also well-noted that while technically being of lesser rank on a footballing pyramid, Pike Rovers have bailed senior football out in the city before – offering the use of Crossagalla – when it had nowhere else to go.
Despite that kindness, it was clear early on that Treaty weren’t feeling charitable when Lee Devitt put Treaty into the lead after just 41 seconds.
Enda Curran controlled well before flicking the ball off a wayward Pike limb not once, but twice – only for the claims to matter little when Devitt placed his effort beautifully into the far corner past Marius Palen.
And within two minutes, a third penalty shout – this time given – saw Enda Curran duly convert from the spot to hand him his 100th senior competitive goal.
With 10 minutes remaining in the first half, the game was put to bed after a brilliant first-time finish saw Devitt double his tally. Substitute Tripimir Vrlcak then added a fourth, heading home at the back post before the break.
Four changes at the half for the hosts didn’t stop their flow, though. Lee Devitt secured his hat-trick ninety seconds into the second period. Vrlcak headed in his second of the game soon after, before Robbie Lynch completed the rout with ten minutes to play.
Pike Rovers are in pre-season, which is an obvious caveat. This was far down their list of priorities, no matter the romance associated with the draw. So this result probably won’t give us a definitive answer to the age-old Limerick query of whether or not you’re 'better off at Pike’ than you are in the League of Ireland.
But the near-2,000 crowd on the night combined for an occasion that suggested the question itself is becoming less important year-on-year – and that’s a collective win for the city at least.
Treaty United: Corey Chambers; Robbie Lynch (Chris Horgan, 46), Ben O’Riordan, Evan O’Connor, Jack Kavanagh; Steven Healy (Colin Conroy, 46), Lee Devitt; Thomas Considine, Lee-J Lynch (David Tarmey, 46), Fionn Doherty (Alec Byrne, 46); Enda Curran (Tripimir Vrljicak, 34).
Pike Rovers: Marius Palen (Daniel Doyle, 60); Scott Kirwan (Ethan Joyce, 60), Eddie O’Donovan, Mikey Morrissey, Sean Madigan; Dylan Kelly Higgins (Jake Prendergast, 75), Shane Walsh, Colin Daly, Eoin Hanrahan (Aaron Cusack, 60); Eoin Duff; Dylan Murphy (Jamie Mitchell, 74).
Referee: Paul Norton.
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