Former Limerick camogie star relishing FAI Cup semi-final berth with Treaty United

The TREATY UNITED Women's side are preparing for a mouth-watering FAI Cup semi-final clash with Bohemians at Dalymount Park this weekend. 

READ MORE: Complete Limerick District League weekend junior soccer round-up

Sean Russell's side ensured a safe passage into the final four with a 2-0 win over DLR Waves in the quarter-final last month thanks to goals from Bella Flocchini and Madelyn Robbins.

Among those Treaty players seeking to create history this weekend is former Limerick camogie star Laura O'Neill

A winger, O'Neill started her football journey with Caherdavin Celtic before enjoying spells with both Coonagh United and Murroe AFC Ladies.

O’Neill captained the Limerick Women’s & Schoolgirls’ Soccer League (LWSSL) U18 team in her two seasons with the squad, along with spending time in Irish U17 and U19 training camps in 2013 and 2014.

From that point on, O'Neill devoted herself to camogie, spending nine years with the Limerick senior camogie team while also representing her club, Na Piarsaigh. In 2024, she made the switch back to football, joining Treaty United.

Her first season with the club proved challenging, as she suffered an ankle break during pre-season. Despite the setback, the Limerick woman made a strong comeback, making her debut off the bench in the FAI Cup First Round at home against Ferns United, where she contributed an assist in a convincing victory.

The following month, she marked another milestone by making her league debut away to Shelbourne.

This season, O'Neill is part of a Treaty United squad who have gone from strength to strength under the management Sean Russell. 

Treaty sit in fifth place in the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division, level on points with fourth place Wexford Youths and one point behind third place Galway United. 

'The Shannonsiders' have enjoyed a record-breaking league campaign accumulating the club's highest ever points tally (32), with four games still to play.

Treaty are also gearing up for an FAI Cup semi-final this weekend, as they travel to Dalymount Park to face Bohemians, whom Treaty have already beaten this season. 

O'Neill says that the team are looking forward to Saturday's clash with 'Bohs.'

"We're all buzzing for the weekend, these things don't come around too often and you can't take them for granted. There's a real buzz and there's a real sense of belief around the squad and it's a great place to be this week," she said. 

Treaty are carrying some real momentum inti Saturday's semi-final. The Limerick side are unbeaten in their last seven and have played some exquisite football in that time. O'Neill says that belief has been a major factor in this run of form. 

"Belief is a massive thing we have in our squad. The girls on the pitch, on the bench or the match-day squad, whoever it is we know that everyone is going to put in a shift and we know that everyone is going to dig each other out of a hole. 

That has carried through all season, from the youngest girls here right the way through to the oldest girls, we all have that trust in each other and it makes for a great buzz around the place," O'Neill said. 

Treaty know the challenge that awaits them on Saturday, with O'Neill stating that their north Dublin opponents will be 'tough and physical.'

"Everytime you play Bohs you know that you're going to get a good game. It's tough and it's physical, there's no better place to go and play a cup semi-final than Dalymount so like I said it's where you want to be. You play soccer for these occasions so just really looking forward to it." 

"At the start of the season no one would have given us a chance to be where we are. We would've taken someone's hand off for an opportunity like we have at the moment. It's just about taking it with two hands and enjoying the week and having that belief in each other. Hopefully all goes well at the weekend," O'Neill concluded. 

Should Treaty progress on Saturday, it will be the club's first appearance at an FAI Cup final. 'The Shannonsiders' reached the semi-final stage of the competition in 2020 where they were beaten 2-0 by Munster rivals Cork City. 

Sean Russell's side will be hoping to go one better this time around with Athlone Town and Shamrock Rovers locking horns in the competition's other semi-final pairing. 

Kick-off in Dalymount Park is at 4pm and the match will be broadcast live on TG4.