2023 Season Preview: Treaty United

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Manager: Tommy Barrett

Stadium: Markets Field

Players In: Conor Barry (Wexford), Ryan Connolly (Finn Harps), Anto O'Donnell, Andy Spain (Athlone Town), Shane Hallahan (Cobh Wanderers), Colin Kelly (Bray Wanderers).

Players Out:  Jack Lynch, Joe Collins, Joel Coulstrain (Aisling Annacotty), Callum McNamara (Galway United), Jack Brady (Longford Town), Conor Melody, Matt Keane (Kerry FC), Sean Guerins.

Extratime.com Key Man: Enda Curran

Curran returned to the League of Ireland to sign for Treaty United after a year away playing for his hometown club Mervue United in the Galway and District League.

The striker has been able to show glimpses of just how good he is at various times throughout his career but injury or general struggles with form have meant he hasn’t been able to bang in goals at the same rate consistently.

His 2022 season was one of those excellent seasons for the 30 year old with 21 goals to his name in all competitions for the Limerick side, the striker not missing a beat after a year out of the League of Ireland.

It will be crucial for Tommy Barrett’s men that Curran is in the same type of form this season if they are to improve on last year’s finish.

Extratime.com One to Watch: Colin Kelly



It remains to be seen just how much time Colin Kelly will get on the field, will Tommy Barrett have room for two strikers in his starting team? Will he be able to push Enda Curran out of the team?

The striker was highly rated when he came through Galway United’s Academy and he made his debut as a 16 year old during the 2018 season on the back of his 30 goals for the Tribesmen’s under-17 side that year.

He would go on to score a couple of goals for Galway the following season and has spent time with Bohemians and Bray Wanderers in the meantime with no sign of that kind of goal scoring prowess yet being seen in his senior career.

This could be the beginning of a successful period for the 22 year old however, Enda Curran was able to join Treaty United and re-start his League of Ireland career with a heap of goals – maybe Kelly can do something similar.

What to expect this season:

Treaty United have qualified for the playoffs in each of the two seasons they’ve played in since joining the League of Ireland in 2021 and they will be expecting to repeat that feat once again in 2023.



They have lost some big players in the offseason with Jack Lynch departing to Australia and Jack Brady signing for Longford Town but some of their recruitment should see them capable of competing for promotion this season although they are possible slightly weaker going into this campaign.

Conor Barry is an experienced campaigner that has come in from Wexford during the winter, Andy Spain is a promising defender coming in from Athlone Town and Colin Kelly could add plenty of goals if things go his way this season.

They could have been in a much better place had Ryan Connolly been able to remain with the team this season but the former Shamrock Rovers, Galway Untied and Finn Harps man departed the club not long after signing due to work commitments.

Certainly expect them to secure a top five finish – but they only got over the line with three points in the difference last year and it could be a tight battle once again for that playoff spot.

First Game:

Treaty United -v- Bray Wanderers, February 17th, Markets Field (kick-off 7.45pm)

About Paul Corcoran

Paul Corcoran is an experienced writer and journalist and has contributed to various publications including the Galway United match programme Maroon View. He spends much of his time covering the fortunes of Galway United's teams … View Full Profile