League Preview: Shelbourne -v- Treaty United

SHELBOURNE

Title hopefuls Shelbourne host Treaty United for the first time at Tolka Park on Friday evening (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

The Reds are in second place and only two points adrift of leaders Athlone Town as they look to retain the trophy they last won in 2019.

Ian Morris’ men have made a fine start to the season where two consecutive draws were followed up by successive victories over Wexford, Cork City and Cabinteely.

Additionally, the Reds have found the net seven times in their preceding three matches, but manager Ian Morris believes his side “still have a few gears to go up” notwithstanding such incredible form.

Treaty United are their next opponents and Morris has been busy doing his homework ahead of Friday’s clash.

Morris said: “I went to see them against Bray in the first week and you could see how together they were.

“Their fitness levels have improved massively again so we really need to be prepared for this.”

TREATY UNITED

Treaty United have yet to taste defeat in this year’s First Division campaign, having returned two wins and three draws from their opening five games.

The Limerick based side have only conceded three goals in the process, the lowest by any side in the division which is phenomenal for a side that only received a licence just five weeks before the season began.

Their impressive start is a well-needed confidence booster for Tommy Barrett’s men as they face into a difficult run of fixtures against the three times placed above them in the table.

UCD and Athlone Town will provide the opposition in the forthcoming weeks, but Treaty’s will look no further than Friday’s encounter with the Dubliners.

Barrett is hoping “to make it as difficult as possible for Shelbourne” adding that his team have “a bit of confidence” which makes him reasonably hopeful of a decent result.

Referee: Oliver Moran.

MATCH STATS

Any result other than a draw would represent a first defeat of the season for Treaty United or Shelbourne with both sides unbeaten to date.

Shelbourne are the third highest scorers in the division with ten goals. Only Athlone Town (11) and UCD (12) have registered more.

Treaty United boast the best defensive record in the second tier with just three goals conceded in their opening five matches.

BETTING

Shelbourne; 2/11 Draw; 9/2; Treaty United; 12/1. 

PREDICTION

Shelbourne 2 - 0 Treaty United

Treaty United

Injured: Conor Melody, Dean George, Aaron Fitzgerald, Joe Collins,

Doubtful: Joel Coustrain, William Armshaw, Edmond O’Dwyer

Suspended: Charlie Fleming

Shelbourne

Injured: Gerardo Bruna, Denzil Fernandes

Doubtful: Georgie Poynton

Suspended: None