TREATY United make the short trip to Galway on Monday night to take on Galway United at Eamon Deacy Park in the Airtricity League First Division (7.45).
It will be Treaty’s third game despite being in game week five due to the postponement of home fixtures with Athlone and Longford Town due to an unplayable pitch at the Markets Field.
There have been well documented issues with one area of the pitch at the the Garryowen venue and despite huge work in the week leading up to the Longford clash, heavy rain on Friday led to a postponement.
Treaty are still unbeaten in the league following a 1-5 win over Wexford and a 0-0 draw with Cobh Ramblers
It may work as an advantage for Treaty as Galway were involved in a tough game in Bray on Friday night but the Triebesmen continued their fine start to the season with a 1-3 win at the Carlisle Grounds.
They also beat Cork City at Turners Cross and came back from two goals down to draw with Waterford FC over a week ago. John Caulfield’s side are once again one of the favourites to earn promotion from the First Division following the disappointment of last year’s play-off defeat to Bray.
Former Treaty United midfielder Ed McCarthy has started all three games for Galway and scored the winner against Cork a fortnight ago. Former Limerick FC player Killian Brouder is also a mainstay at the heart of the defence.
With the addition of Jordan Adeyemo and Manu Dimas, Caulfield has re-organised his forward line although last season’s top scorer Wilson Waweru will be in contention to start tomorrow night. The Tribesmen are captained by Conor McCormack who will be partnered by former Cobh player Dave Hurley in midfield.
Treaty manager Tommy Barrett had a strong squad to choose from for the Longford clash and his side trained on a big section of the Markets Field turf immediately after Friday’s postponement with the Galway challenge in mind. Joe Gorman has returned following injury and will be expected to take the place of Mark Walsh at centre-back. Outside of that obvious change, it is unlikely that there will be many changes for the visitors.
Treaty are still unbeaten at Eamon Deacy Park following two draws at the venue last season. Waweru equalised in the last minute to deny the Limerick side a win last March and both sides played out a 0-0 draw in September. Galway beat Treaty 0-1 at the Markets Field in June thanks to a Paraic Cunningham goal.
It promises to be another tight affair between the teams with Caulfield and Barrett prioritizing defensive solidity. Caulfield’s squad have been criticised in the past for the lack of entertainment produced but this Galway team are getting results which is the name of the game.
Jack Lynch is unlikely to be involved once again for Treaty but Kieran Hanlon has also returned following a recent illness.
The game will be streamed live on LOI TV and is the beginning of a tough period for Tommy Barrett’s charges as he takes on three of the pre-season favourites for the league title with Cork and Waterford to visit the Markets Field in the next 11 days.
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