TREATY United make the trip to Dublin this evening to take on champions-elect Shelbourne at Tolka Park (7.45). A win for the home side will guarantee that the title resides in the famous Drumcondra venue once more and they will return to the Premier Division at the first time of asking. A win for the Limerick side will guarantee a place in the play-offs so there is plenty at stake.
Treaty enter the highly anticipated encounter off the back of four games unbeaten and just one goal conceded in that timeframe. Tommy Barrett’s men earned a goalless draw against Cork City last week at the Markets Field and coupled with Wexford’s victory over Athlone Town, it means there is now a ten-point gap between Treaty and the Midlanders. Barring a disaster, a play-off place has already been secured.
Two recent victories over Cork and Cabinteely have moved Shelbourne ever closer to league glory and Ian Morris’ side have been the most consistent side in the division by a distance. With quality like Yoyo Mahdy and Michael O’Connor in the forward department and the experienced Brendan Clarke in the goalkeeping position, it is not hard to see why Shelbourne were the favourites to return to the Premier Division at the first time of asking.
With four goals in his last three games, experienced attacking midfielder Ryan Brennan will be a huge threat to a stubborn Treaty defence.
These sides have met on two occasions so far this season with games ending in a share of the spoils. During the first meeting at Tolka Park, Barrett’s charges produced one of their best performances of the campaign in the first half and took the lead through Kieran Hanlon.
However, two late goals from Mahdy and Brennan look to have broke Treaty hearts before Clyde O’Connell rescued a point with a last-gasp equaliser on a dramatic night. Although it lacked the same level of drama, there was no shortage of it in the return fixture at the Markets Field when William Armshaw rescued a point in the dying moments with a superb strike to cancel out Michael O’Connor’s opener.
Marc Ludden will be available once again following a one-match suspension and will be expected to go straight into the side. Barrett brought on Sean McSweeney from the substitutes bench last week, but the former Limerick Gaelic footballer will be expected to start tomorrow night. Steven Christopher had one of his best outings since joining the club against Cork and we expect to see Matt Keane line out on the opposite wing.
Sporting Limerick soccer analyst Noel O’Connor believes that Treaty can already start preparing for the play-offs and that starts on Friday night with a huge test. “Even though it won’t be said in the dressing room or in training, I think Treaty do have a play-off place. Even if they weren’t to pick up a point until the end of the season, I don’t think the chasing teams can win all four of their games.
This is certainly a game where they can have a real go. Shelbourne will be a rea handful and will be determined to win the title at home. They are littered with goals and aren’t reliant on one man for the goals. With the desire they will have to win the title in front of the home crowd, I’d be surprised if Treaty got anything out of it but it promises to be a really good game.”
Treaty manager Tommy Barrett hopes his side can perform to their best in a bid to get a result: “We have to go out and do our best to get a result. It is going to be very difficult as they are a really good side and they will be champions whether its this week or next week. They are worthy champions as they have only lost once in the league. From our point of view, we have to try get a result because its (the play-off race) is not done yet.”
Treaty United Senior Women’s side will be hoping to bounce back from last weekend’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Galway WFC with a positive performance against Peamount United this Sunday at Jackman Park (2pm). The sides met recently in the FAI Cup with the current double winners running out 0-2 winners.
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