League Preview: UCD -v- Treaty United

UCD

The Students head into their last home game of the season this Friday night safe in the knowledge that they will be involved in the promotion play-off games, the outcome of which will determine who will join Shelbourne in being promoted into the Premier Division next season.

UCD currently sit on 42 points with two games left to play so, theoretically at least, they could still finish in any position from second to fifth. 

There is the equivalent of a dry run of the promotion play offs this weekend as second placed Galway United take on fifth placed Bray Wanderers while third placed UCD face Treaty United who are in fourth place. The results of these two games will probably make it much clearer what the actual pairings will be, even before the final sets of fixtures take place the following weekend.

The dates for the two-legged home and away play off fixtures have been set, with the first leg on Wednesday Nov 3^rd and the second leg on Sunday Nov 7^th.

UCD have a very good home record this season, having only been beaten twice in Belfield so they will be looking to maintain that home form when they face the Limerick side this weekend.

They accounted for Cork City at home in their last match, albeit on a narrow 1-0 score line and with having to withstand a lot of City pressure in the second 45 minutes of that match.

Dynamic midfielder Paul Doyle was suspended for the Cork City match but will be available for selection in the engine room this Friday night should manager Andy Myler decide on some squad rotation in advance of the key promotion play-off games in November.

TREATY UNITED

Treaty United have only lost once in their last six matches, and that was to a Georgie Poynton penalty in a 1-0 home defeat to eventual title winners Shelbourne, so they too will come to the capital full of confidence for their last away match of the regular season.

They have only scored once however in their last four matches and their overall goals for record of 33 all season is the lowest of the top five teams in the division.

They will need to find their scoring boots this Friday night against opponents who have not failed to score in their last seven matches during which they averaged almost three goals per match.

Tommy Barret’s side have done remarkably well in their maiden season in the League of Ireland having secured their play-off spot in their very first season and with two games to spare.

They were 1-0 down to a James Doona strike at home to fellow play-off contenders Athlone Town last weekend but an equalising goal from Kieran O’Hanlon was sufficient to give them the point they needed to secure at least fifth place in the table.

O’Hanlon was bundled over in the box by Town keeper Michael Schlingermann in the 74^th minute of the Athlone match and he immediately grabbed the ball and confidently slammed home the spot kick to the delight of the large home following.

This could well be a rehearsal for the play-off games in November, a fact that Barrett will be very conscious of when he selects his starting eleven on Friday night.

Referee: Gavin Colfer

MATCH STATS

UCD were 2-0 down to Treaty United in the Belfield fixture back in May, goals from Sean McSweeney and Kieran O’Hanlon giving United the lead, but UCD recovered well to win 3-2 thanks to goals from Dara Keane, Sean Brennan and Harvey O’ Brien.

The result was reversed when the sides met again in the Market’s Field in July, Colm Whelan scored a penalty for the students but two goals from Jack Lynch gave Utd all three points in a 2-1 victory.

BETTING

UCD 13/20; Draw 14/5; Treaty United 10/3

PREDICTION

UCD 1 - 1 Treaty United

UCD

Injured: None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Treaty United

Injured: None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

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— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) October 22, 2021