Dean George’s second-half strike ensured Treaty United took the three points to leapfrog their hosts as Finn Harps fell to a slender defeat.

Looking to make it three wins from three against Treaty this season, Harps were boosted by the return of Ryan Rainey in midfield against their out-of-form visitors.

Eleven minutes elapsed and the first opportunity arrived to Treaty, Dean George hooking wide from outside the box.

The pace of Adam Lennon and Ryan Flood was proving an outlet for both sides but clearcut scoring opportunities remained a scarce commodity early on.

Lee Devitt lashed high in the twenty-fifth minute with Treaty getting slightly on top.

Devitt then made a fantastic block to deny Sean O’Donnell as defences dominated the first forty-five.

Clearly, Treaty had been better buoyed up by their half time team talk as two minutes into the second half, George skipped inside lethargic markers and found the bottom corner with a precise, pearoller of a strike.

Lennon should have doubled Treaty’s lead shortly after but lashed wide. Caoimhin Porter then powered in a shot from Flood’s cross, Mark Walsh making a wonderful block for the away side.

Desperate to inject his side with a clinical edge, Aaron McLaughlin was introduced by Rogers, hoping for the same scoring substitute impact he had away to Treaty in April.

Yet it was a starter who went closest next, Wara thumping a header in which Treaty scrambled away off the line as home pressure intensified.

Flood thumped in a thunderbolt from range which Corey Chambers tipped behind brilliantly before O’Donnell scuffed a half-chance with time ticking down.

Whilst tonight may not prove the catalyst to playoff charge for Treaty, it is a considerable dent to Harps’ recent momentum, now doused by successive defeats.

FAI Cup action is up next for Finn Harps, hosting Skerries next Friday night whilst Treaty have a fortnight to prepare for the visit of Kerry to the Markets Field.