Markets Field will provide the backdrop for a vital SSE Airtricity League first division encounter between Treaty United and Galway United tomorrow evening (7.45pm ).
It has been a remarkable campaign for Treaty, who have made a significant impact, but John Caulfield’s charges will head for Limerick heartened by two encouraging victories.
Wilson Waweru’s sweet first half goal ensured United, who were prompted by the splendid Conor McCormack, overcame Cabinteely at Eamonn Deacy Park last Friday.
Caulfield was satisfied his improving team built on the dramatic last gasp success over Athlone Town. “We felt coming out of the week before, that it was probably our best and most complete performance of the season so far,” Caulfield says.
“We did play some fantastic football, and I suppose that is from a lot of hard work on the training ground. While in the first part of the season maybe we only showed small glimpses certainly the last day we were much more dominant than that. We played some great stuff, we have players that are inventive, we like playing attacking football, we like to get forward quickly, to try to score goals.
“It was a pleasing performance, it was a clean sheet, we got a fantastic goal, a really well worked goal, a fantastic finish by Wilson.
“I certainly felt we could have scored another one or two, but the important thing was we kept a clean sheet, hopefully after two strong performances since the break we can drive on now into a really tough fixture on Friday night.”
The United boss is optimistic about the remainder of the season acknowledging the influence of captain McCormack.
“I keep saying, maybe because of my experience, that you don't just pull a squad of 22 players together and all of a sudden they just gel straightaway,” Caulfield says.
“It does take time to get the balance right, the right chemistry in the team, looking at different systems and different options, getting partnerships between players.
“To sum up the first third of the season our form was inconsistent, but since the break we have done a lot of work, thankfully in the last couple of weeks the performances have been much more consistent and we look much more like the team I believe we can be. It is still only two games and the season has a long way to go.
“Conor McCormack has used his experience, they are the types of performances that I would know Conor can put in and why I wanted him to come to Galway, and he wanted to come.
“They are the type of performances I expect from him, because when he plays like that he shows great leadership. He is a fantastic player for the team.”
Manager Tommy Barrett’s work with Treaty is worthy of the utmost respect according to Caulfield. “Tommy Barrett has played a blinder,” Caulfield says. “He has played it low key. Despite the fact that Treaty got a late licence, Tommy had been working really hard two and three months in advance to assemble that squad together, knowing that a lot of part time players were out there.
“I know a lot of those players really, really well. I had a number of them before - Tadhg Ryan, Jack Lynch, Marc Ludden, Clyde O'Connell for a while, Joel Coulstrain, I know Anthony O'Donnell and Charlie Fleming very well, Joe Collins was obviously with Galway United too.
“They will be in the play-offs, we know how difficult a game it is. We found that out in our home game against them, a 1-1 draw, we got a late equaliser.
“We know how difficult this game will be against a tough, experienced team. They are really strong from set pieces and they don't give away goals. This will be a huge test for us.”
