Treaty United aim to create play-off history with season-defining trip to Cobh

TREATY UNITED will look to create history on Tuesday night when they travel to St Colman's Park to face Cobh Ramblers in the SSE Airtricity First Division play-off second leg.

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The Shannonsiders travel to Cobh with a 1-0 aggregate lead thanks to a 76th minute header from Canadian Joe Hanson at the Markets Field on Friday night.

It is the first time Treaty will take a lead into the second leg of a play-off tie since the club's inception in 2020.

Although Barrett's charges will be content to travel to Cork's south-east with a one-goal advantage, the Garryowen-based side will perhaps be slightly disappointed that they did not build on Hanson's solitary strike.

Chances from he likes of Richkov Boevi, Lee J Lynch, Mark Byrne and Patrick Ferry, if converted, could've had Treaty in a far more commanding position heading into Tuesday night's fixture.

Manager Tommy Barrett admits his side could have been more clinical in front of goal but says he is ‘happy’ with the one-goal advantage.

"Look, it could have been more, particularly in the first half but that could have changed the game as well, they could have come at us more and potentially scored so you got to take what you get.

"It's disappointing not to be coming out with a bigger cushion but we'll take it and we'll be happy with it,” he said.

The last time Treaty faced Cobh in St Colman's Park, they were on the receiving end of a 3-0 loss. Barrett and his side are under no illusions as to how tough Tuesday night's tie will be.

"It's going to be tough, they're a really good side, you could see that especially in the last 20 minutes of the first leg, they're a top side with top players.

"They have a lot of players that have played in the Premier Division so we will be expecting a huge challenge on Tuesday night.

Despite acknowledging how tough a challenge it is going to be, Barrett says that his side will be going out to win their second-leg tie.

"If we get our defensive set-up right, we can hopefully grab a goal but it'll be difficult there's no doubt about that.

"You cant go down there and sit back for 90 minutes because they'll just plough through you. They will get balls in the box and they'll do damage.

"The last time we were down there we lost 3-0 so it is important that we go down there with the attitude that we're defensively solid and we're going to go out to try and win the game for sure," Barrett said.

Should Treaty secure advance on Tuesday, they will face either Bray Wanderers or UCD in the First Division play-off final at a neutral venue on Sunday, November 2. Bray bring a 1-0 aggregate lead into their second leg tie.

For a full match report on Tuesday night's SSE Airtricity First Division play-off second leg, visit www.limerickleader.ie.