HIGH-FLYING Treaty United are now just one of four teams left standing in the Extra.ie FAI Cup.
The odds on Treaty becoming the first local club since Limerick United, all of 40 years ago, annexing the game’s most prized possession are still a tempting 10/1.
Treaty are guaranteed a rewarding split of gate receipts, and also television money rights from RTÉ2, from their semi-final against Derry City at the Brandywell (capacity 3,700) on Sunday, October 16.
The other semi-final will see Waterford United at home to Shelbourne.
For hopeful diary inclusion, the final at the Aviva Stadium is pencilled-in for Sunday, November 13.
In front of their biggest (and a rocking one at that) home attendance of the season, fledgling Treaty United rewarded their fans with a stunning 4-1 win over fancied Premier Division outfit UCD – a quarter-final contest in which Enda Curran (30) shone like a beacon with a sensational hat-trick, the completion of which was a truly brilliant half-volleyed effort to the roof of the net.
On Curran’s third goal, manager Tommy Barrett told LOI TV: “We know what technique he has, what skill he has in the box. He has done a few of those for us this season, even a very similar one last weekend with his left foot that came off the post – even though he’s a right-footed player.”
“We want him in the box; he’s very dangerous in the box; he’s an excellent finisher. He strikes such a very good ball.
“The two lads out wide, Deano (George) and Willie (Armshaw) also helped Enda greatly, and I thought they were contributors to what was a brilliant result for us.”
If Curran was the game’s most outstanding performer, Armshaw too played a starring role in the magnificent outcome, earning an early penalty and helping himself to a very fine goal into the bargain.
“He’s got his stamina up. Last season, we were trying to get his stamina up. We were bringing him on in games. Usually when he comes on, he scores, but tonight was the first goal he actually scored for us from a starting position. You can see his stamina is getting better and he’s looking like a 90-minute League of Ireland player now, and that’s what we obviously want,” said manager Barrett.
From three Cup ties, Treaty have bagged a dozen goals and conceded just one.
Treaty’s rearranged SSE Airtricity First Division fixture with Longford Town is listed for Bishopsgate on Saturday next, kick-off 4pm. In the run-in, Treaty also have outings against Galway (H), Waterford (A) and Wexford (H), and remain in a strong position for a promotion play-off position.
