Treaty United Women stalwart the first to reach 100 caps for the club

Treaty United’s Grace McInerney became the first Treaty United Women’s player to reach 100 caps last weekend in the club’s 1-0 win over Peamount United in what was a hard-fought win over the Dubliners last weekend in Garryowen.

A Ballysimon native, McInerney has been at the club for a number of years, gaining a reputation for her steely tough defending and industrious work-rate.

The full-back progressed from the Treaty United Under 17’s to the senior team three years ago and has been a consistent performer over the years.

Speaking to Treaty United after the tie, the Super Blue’s right-back spoke on their stern opponents and what it means to reach a century over appearances in Treaty blue.

“I felt in the first half we kind of had to come to grips with it, we had to go in at half-time and switch things up, switch formation and I think it showed, the girls adapted well and I think that showed with the scoreline. It was a tale of two halves definitely.

“We got away with a few chances in the first half. When you get the chance you have to take them. You win by putting the ball in the back of then net.

McInerney led the side out as captain against Peamount but states it’s all about the collective when taking to the field with her teammates.

“The captaincy doesn’t really change anything, you go out and play your own game but I thanked the girls beforehand because there isn’t 100 appearances without them.

“It all goes back to the team and the club,” the 20-year-old said.

The former Fairview Rangers player admits she might not feel her young age, joking that she has been at the club for a number of years now.

“I definitely don’t fell 20-years-old anyways! I’ve been here for a while but it’s the girls that make you want to come into training every week and make you want to play well so it’s really not that hard when you have that team behind you every Saturday.”

On a stand-out moment from her century of caps, McInerney recounts beating runaway league leaders Athlone Town in this year’s All-Island Cup.

“When I go home and think about I could have a different answer but off the top of my head maybe beating Athlone. You’ll always think about that, they are top of the table, we went in as underdogs but you can never count Treaty out.

McInerney, who was part of the Treaty Under 17 squad who won the 2021 WNL final, says that the club’s ambition is to win all of their remaining games as the season reaches its conclusion.

“We’re looking to get three points from all of our remaining games and where that lands us we’ll have to see but our plan is to only go up from here