Curran hat-trick downs UCD as Treaty United march into FAI Cup semi-final

An Enda Curran hat-trick sent Treaty United into the final four of the FAI Cup, as the First Division side stunned their Premier Division counterparts at the Matkets Field.

Opening the scoring with a spot-kick before doubling his tally 10 minutes later, Curran would seal his third and Treaty's passage into the semi-finals just 10 minutes into the second half.

FULL MATCH DETAILS

The sides exchanged late goals to give punters even more bang for their buck, but the contest was over long before that.

Treaty United and UCD probably wouldn’t have begun the season prioritising this competition, but with the hosts having won eight of their last 10 in all competitions as well as needing just four points to bag a play-off spot, and with the Students coming off the back of a shock win over Dundalk, this all of a sudden felt like an opportunity rather than a distraction.

UCD have found the net just 22 times in 29 league games – the lowest total in the top division, but thanks to Thomas Lonergan’s brace last week and scoring six in their two cup games to date, they wouldn’t be entering this tie with such concerns.

But there was a decent number in attendance for this one, which added to the occasion.

And they would have been pleasantly surprised by Treaty’s enterprise given Tommy Barrett spoke at length last week about catching them on the break might be the order of the day.

The best way to describe Treaty is workmanlike, but they do have occasional x-factor. The primary source of that is Willie Armshaw. The tricky winger is a nightmare for opposing defenders due to his quick feet.

They were on full display just before the 30-minute mark when Evan Osam slid in to try and win the ball, but it had long-departed the scene.

Derek Tomney pointed