Liam Boyce hits another hat trick as Derry City see off Treaty United in FAI Cup

Treaty United 1

Derry City 5

Liam Boyce came off the bench to steak the show with a second half hat-trick at Market's Field.

It was an emphatic victory for Derry City, who were made to work for their victory, held at by by the First Division side until Boyce made the difference as the visitors ran away it in the second period. 

Tiernan Lynch gave a debut to striker Dipo Akinyemi at Market’s Field, while he also handed a first start to Alex Bannon. Meanwhile, Adam O’Reilly made his first start in five games as the Candystripes began what they hoped would be the first step on the road to a third FAI Cup Final in three seasons.  

City started with intent and Bannon had a good chance to break the deadlock on five minutes, but the unmarked centre-back was unable to keep his header down after Michael Duffy's right-wing corner had picked him out at the back post.

Moments later the First Division's top scorer Lee Devitt, who has netted 14 goals already this campaign, had a half chance but his left footed strike flew well over Brian Maher's crossbar, after the ball had fallen kindly inside the penalty box for the talented midfielder.

City then had the best chance of the game four minutes before the break when Michael Duffy’s clever pass threaded through the Treaty defence, right into the path of O’Reilly who was denied only his third Derry City goal by Chambers who produced a strong stop from close range.

Lynch strengthened his attack early in the second half with the introduction of Liam Boyce from the substitutes’ bench, and it proved to be immediately effective as the striker rose to meet Michael Duffy’s corner to send a looping header over Chambers and into the top corner to make it 1-0.

Derry City then doubled their lead on 71 minutes as Treaty got caught from a corner again, this time Duffy’s delivery met with a header from Bannon, who celebrated a goal on his first start for the club.

Treaty United were simply unable to contain Derry City from corners, as the visitors scored a third just three minutes later, Boyce again on hand to direct a header over Chambers and into the net, in doing so hitting double figures for the season.

Treaty did pull a goal back 11 minutes from time when Brian Cunningham’s mis-hit shot fell perfectly for Devitt, who calmly placed the ball beyond Brian Maher.

The game was over as a contest with six minutes remaining however, as Derry scored again, with Boyce completing his second hat trick in three games. The striker was brought down by Chambers, giving referee Lucas Keating an easy decision, and Boyce hammered the ball confidently past the Treaty goalkeeper to send Derry through.

Derry were showing no mercy late on, as they added a late fifth, Adam Frizzell setting up Danny Mullen to score to give the scoreline an emphatic look.

Teams

Treaty United: Chambers, O’Connor, Walsh, R Lynch, B Lynch, Conroy (Byrne 77’), Healy (Doherty 89’), Wilson (Cunningham 65’), Devitt, Murphy, Vrljicak (Ferry 77’).

Derry City: Maher, R Boyce (Benson 77’), Bannon, Connolly, Todd, Ferguson (Cann 56’), O’Reilly, Diallo, Whyte (L Boyce 56’), Duffy (Frizzell 77’), Akinyemi (Mullen 69’).

Referee: Lucas Keating.