Treaty United manager Tommy Barrett looks ahead to 2026

TREATY UNITED manager Tommy Barrett says his side must build on their positive end to their season heading into 2026.

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The Shannonsiders’ season came to an agonising end against Bray Wanderers two weeks ago through a stoppage time Justin Ferizaj goal in the SSE Airtricity First Division Play-Off Final. Barrett says the loss to Bray Wanderers still hurts.

"The feeling surrounding it now is much the same as to how it was the day of or the day after the match," he said.

"It's a game we could've won. If we take our chances in the first half, we could go on to win the game but we didn't and that's football, we just have to move on.

"It's a game we were disappointed not to win really but we just have to keep the head down and push on for next season,” he said.

Ferizaj's acrobatic effort brought the curtain down on what was an impressive run put together by Treaty United at the business end of their First Division season, which coincidentally started with a 2-1 win over 'The Seagulls' at the Markets Field in the penultimate league game of the season.

In that time, Barrett's charges recorded noteworthy wins away to Wexford FC, in what was a winner-take-all clash in Ferrycarrig Park on the final day of the season and Cobh Ramblers in this season's First Division play-offs.

Treaty showed real steel and resilience against their Cork counterparts, winning 2-1 on aggregate over two legs, recording a 1-0 win at the Markets Field and a 1-1 draw in St Colman's Park.

Barrett insists that his side are more than capable of competing with the league's best as the Shannonsiders head into next season.

"I think we're well capable of competing with the top teams in the league, I think we've proven that. The only team we didn't beat this season was Dundalk and we drew with them twice.

“We are certainly capable of beating anyone on our day, it's just about consistency and finding that level of consistency. That can come with more experience and a more experienced team can go on to do that," he said.

Barrett says that the addition of some fresh faces, mixed with keeping current key players, could propel Treaty to a higher league finish next season.

“We probably need to add a bit more quality to the squad for next year and if we can do that, I think we'll be stronger next year.

"The lads are a great group of lads, as I said we'll be hopeful of adding a bit more quality, there's always comings and goings in the new season.

"If we can keep some of the lads that had started, some of the more local lads, the younger lads and add that bit of quality, it will give us a good, solid base of 20 players that can push on and finish higher up the table next year," Barrett added.

Treaty finished in fifth in this season's SSE Airtricity First Division on 48 points, the Shannonsiders’ will be hoping to bridge the gap between themselves and the likes of UCD and Bray Wanderers who finished above them last season.

A strong end to the season has renewed hope around Garryowen heading into next season.