IN WHAT is easily the club’s biggest outing in their relatively short history, Treaty United will meet favourites Derry City in a glamour FAI Cup semi-final at Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium tomorrow (kick-off 2pm).
The other semi-final, seeing Waterford United at home to Shelbourne, follows later the same afternoon (4.45pm). Both ties will be by televised on RTÉ2, with radio commentary available locally on Live 95.
This season’s blue riband final is pencilled-in for Sunday November 13 at the Aviva Stadium.
Many believe Tommy Barrett’s brave outfit are in bonus territory, but what does the manager reckon? He told Post Sport: “Of course we are, yes. As we’re the only amateur team left in the competition. The other teams remaining are fully professionally backed by some very wealthy individuals”.
“But look at it, we’re in the last four of the top competition in the country and we’re not going to go out of it without a fight.
“Against Derry, we will have to be in our best form, and they will have to, maybe, underperform if we are to nick the win. It’s going to be very, very difficult but look it’s a cup environment and at least we’re in the hunt.”
Without question, Galwegian Enda Curran will need to be on the scoresheet if Treaty are to pull off a shock result against the Candystripes in a few days’ time.
“At 30, it’s great that Enda is having his best-ever season in League of Ireland,” Barrett acknowledged.
“He’s a class finisher. He’s experienced but there are others as experienced in there too for us, with the likes of Marc Ludden (32) and Jack Lynch (26), just to mention two of the lads.
“To be honest, we have a great squad, one that I’m very proud of.”
Victories over Usher Celtic, Maynooth University Town, and UCD are what have propelled Treaty into dreamland.
2022 marks the 40th anniversary of Limerick’s last FAI Cup triumph, secured courtesy of Brendan Storan’s lone goal for Limerick United against Bohemians at Dalymount Park.
Ahead of Friday week’s home fixture to Wexford Youths (who on Friday last failed to beat newly-crowned champions Cork City) at Markets Field, Treaty are assured of their promotion semi-final spot in the SSS Airtricity First Division. This despite suffering their first league defeat (3-0) in close on two months to Waterford United at the weekend.
