TREATY United senior men’s and women’s sides will contest three games over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
Tommy Barrett’s men’s side begin the busy period with a trip to Athlone Town on Friday night while Don O’Riordan’s side travel to Sligo on Saturday afternoon to welcome league newcomers Sligo Rovers. The weekend will be finished off with Treaty men’s entertaining Wexford FC at the Markets Field.
Treaty have responded superbly to their last defeat against Cork City and are now unbeaten in three games following last week’s hard fought 0-0 draw with Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.
In a game of few chances, Enda Curran and Willie Armshaw created the best openings for the Limerick side but could not hit the target. At the Carlisle Grounds, there has been just one goal between the sides and with that considered, it was no surprise to see a stalemate.
Encouragingly, it was also Treaty’s third clean sheet of the season and in the absence of Sean Guerins, both Mark Walsh and Joe Gorman have struck up a solid partnership in recent weeks. On another positive note, captain Jack Lynch returned to competitive action for the first time since last year’s play off defeat to UCD in an unfamiliar attacking role.
Friday night’s trip to Lissywoolen will mark the second time that Barrett’s charges have faced Athlone in 11 days. The sides met at the Markets Field recently with Treaty winning 2-0 thanks to a brace from former Athlone player Dean George. Since that meeting, Martin Russell has left his position as manager at the Midlands club.
Athlone are currently bottom of the first division although they have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks and Barrett will be aware that his side cannot afford to be complacent. Former Limerick FC man Stephen Kenny and Carlton Ubeunuzo can cause problems for any defence in the league.
Treaty are unbeaten in four meetings against Athlone with three victories and one draw and one of the Limerick sides best performance came at Lissywoolen last season in a 1-4 win. Sean Guerins is unavailable for the game while Kieran Hanlon and Conor Melody are struggling with injury.
On Monday evening, Treaty welcome Wexford to the Markets Field (7.45). It is the second meeting of the sides this season with Treaty running riot with a 1-5 victory at Ferrycarrig Park on the opening day of the season.
Treaty United senior women’s side have endured a tough start to the season with four defeats on the trot. Treaty were on the end of defeats to DLR Waves, Peamount United, Wexford Youths and Galway United.
Don O’Riordan’s side are currently bottom of the table and three points behind Cork City. They face Sligo at the Showgrounds on Saturday with the league newcomers six points better off.
Treaty announced the signing of Clare native Aislinn Meaney on Monday. Meaney will be a welcome addition as she has represented the Republic of Ireland at underage level and previously played for Galway WFC.
Sporting Limerick soccer analyst Noel O’Connor is confident that Treaty will stretch their unbeaten run to four games tonight. “I think Treaty United are strong enough to win this game.
I hardly think that the Athlone Town squad are over the moon that Martin Russell is gone. We talk about a managerial bounce but I am not so sure it is going to happen there. The only difference between this meeting and the last one is Athlone will be fresher but whether they have enough to derail Treaty this weekend, I’m not so sure.”
Fellow analyst Jason O’Connor is in agreement. “The managerial change plays into Treaty’s hands I think. If there is no change in formation, I think that Treaty should pick up another three points on Friday night.”
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