DISAPPOINTED with the home crowds this season, manager Tommy Barrett will be hoping that the local support turns out in significant numbers for Treaty United’s Extra.ie FAI Cup quarter-final with UCD at the Markets Field Stadium on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).
Treaty come into this fixture on the back of a series of fine victories in the SSE Airtricity First Division – the latest of which, a 2-1 home win against Bray Wanderers secured courtesy of strikes from Stephen Christopher and Dean George, has cemented the club’s promotion play-off position.
Treaty and UCD are familiar foes, with the sides engaging over two legs in a promotion chase last season. The students won 3-0 on their visit to Limerick and all but guaranteed themselves outright victory but brave Treaty did win the return leg in Dublin (2-1).
UCD eventually secured a place in the Premier League but are currently positioned towards the bottom end of the table.
In their recent Cup outing, the Dubliners eliminated Galway United (2-3). Limerick’s John Ryan (18) was sprung from the bench by UCD at Eamonn Deacy Park but he’s not around for a visit to his home city, having just signed for Serie A side Sassuolo (Italy). Ryan started his career with Aisling Annacotty.
Ahead of the fixture, Treaty have been buoyed by the return from injury of their inspirational 24-year-old captain Jack Lynch.
Of the glamour tied, brilliant Treaty shot-stopper Jack Brady (who missed the two Cup wins through injury) told the club’s website: “We’re delighted with the home draw, but we would have kinda fancied ourselves against anyone at home. It certainly is one to look forward to”.
“The lads have been on a very, very good run, scoring eight goals and conceding zero. That’s a positive we will take into the match.”
He cautioned: “Obviously UCD had a very good win against Galway, showing that they can go into a hostile atmosphere and get a result. However, it’s a cup fixture and form goes out the window on such occasions.”
