TREATY United are entering another hectic period in a pulsating Airtricity League First Division as they entertain Galway United at the Markets Field (7.45) on Friday night before facing Cork City at Turners Cross on the Bank Holiday Monday (5pm).
Last weekend, Tommy Barrett’s side moved five points clear of the chasing pack in the play-off race when they drew 0-0 away at Longford Town. Additionally, Wexford and Bray were both beaten by Waterford and Galway respectively to allow the gap between the sides develop. Treaty also have a game in hand on the majority of their rivals.
Heading to Bishopsgate last Saturday evening was no easy task for the Limerick side, but they managed to frustrate their fellow in-form opponents to gain a valuable point. Treaty are now 6 games unbeaten and have conceded just three goals in that time frame.
Jack Brady has pulled off some important saves and most notably denying Aaron Robinson and Darren Craeven last week. Since Treaty last faced Galway and Cork in quick succession, their form and performances have improved as the team continues to gel.
The return of Sean Guerins was a welcome addition to the team last week and there is now huge competition between Guerins, Joe Gorman and Mark Walsh although the latter was replaced through injury last weekend. A rivalry has been building between both Galway and Treaty over the last year and a half and the Markets Field outfit will be desperate to get their first win over the Tribesman since their arrival into the league. In their only previous meeting at the Garryowen venue, John Caulfield’s side ran out narrow 0-1 winners thanks to a goal from the now departed Paraic Cunningham.
There are currently 7 ex-Galway players plying their trade with Treaty. Marc Ludden, Conor Melody, Steven Christopher, Enda Curran, Jack Lynch, Conor Winn and Joe Gorman have all donned the maroon colours in the last four seasons. Furthermore, former Treaty United player Ed McCarthy is joined by former Limerick FC man Killian Brouder and former Regional United centre-back Evan O’Connor at Eamon Deacy Park.
In the first meeting between the two teams at the Galway venue in March, Galway ran out 2-1 winners thanks to goals from Wilson Waweru and Stephen Walsh. Walsh caused the Treaty back four a lot of problems on the night and the decision to move him defence to striker seems to have worked for Caulfield.
Outside of Walsh, there are further injury concerns over Kieran Hanlon and Joel Coustrain. Conor Melody also returned from injury last weekend.
Sporting Limerick soccer analyst Jason O’Connor is hopeful that Treaty United will revert to playing 2 strikers against the Tribesmen.
“It will be interesting to see how Tommy lines up. The 4–3-3 didn’t work in the 2-1 defeat in Galway so I’d be disappointed if we went that way again. Galway are very effective off set-pieces and if they go ahead it’s very hard to claw it back. I would love Tommy to revert to the 4-4-2 which yielded some great performances in recent games.”
Cian O’Connell believes that it will be a tight contest between two similar sides.
“In fairness to Tommy Barrett, in such a short space of time, he has developed a solid unit. You could say there are similarities between Treaty and Galway United. When you look at the players in the squad with league experience and then the likes of Sean Guerins who have come with good pedigree from junior football, they have become a very durable team and they have physicality.”
Treaty United senior women’s side face the unenviable trip to face reigning champions Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Saturday afternoon (2pm). Don O’Riordan’s side are yet to pick up a victory in the league this season and will be fierce underdogs against a star studded Drumcondra outfit led by Pearl Slattery.
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