Treaty United Entertain Waterford FC in Munster Senior Cup Quarter-Final

Treaty United FC will play their first competitive game of 2022 as they entertain fellow Airtricity League First Division club Waterford FC in the Munster Senior Cup at the Markets Field on Tuesday night (7.30). It is a quarter-final tie with Treaty looking to win the trophy for the first time.

Both sides have played two friendlies each so far as they prepare for the beginning of the First Division season. Treaty have lost to both Finn Harps and Shamrock Rovers while Waterford have beaten Cobh Ramblers and Dundalk FC.

Although both managers will be putting out experimental sides as they attempt to find their best formation and team, each club will see it as a big opportunity to win a trophy. For the first time in 11 years, the competition will not be contested by a Premier Division club will all four Munster clubs in the second tier of the Airtricity League.

Tommy Barrett will face the new season without the services of last season’s star performers Tadgh Ryan, Sean McSweeney and Anthony O’Donnell. Ryan and McSweeney have signed for Bohemians and Shelbourne respectively while O’Donnell is currently injured by may return in July. Barrett currently has a squad of 21 players following the recent signings of Jack Arra, Joe Gorman and Colin Conroy.

Enda Curran, Jack Brady, Lee Devitt and Denzil Fernades have also arrived to bolster the squad who reached the play-offs in their first season at men’s senior level.

Waterford FC have appointed former Shelbourne boss Ian Morris as their new manager. Morris left Shels despite leading the club to their second first division title in three years. The Suirsiders suffered relegation heartbreak in the play-off against UCD last season despite embarking on a good run of form under former manager Marc Bircham. Owner Richard Forrest came under severe scrutiny as he sacked Bircham on the eve of the play-off final and the former QPR man was a firm favourite with players and supporters.

Forrest made the decision to keep the club as a full-time outfit despite the relegation and they have been installed as one of the early favourites for the title and a swift return to the top flight. Maintaining key players such as Eddie Nolan, Brian Murphy, Anthony Wordsworth and Phoenix Patterson was a big boost as well as the additions of Yassine En-Neyah and Killian Cantwell.

The Munster Senior Cup has not rested on Shannonside since 2015 when Martin Russell’s Limerick FC side defeated John Caulfield’s Cork City in the decider in Askeaton. Limerick FC won the competition on three occasions since the turn of the millennium; 2006, 2012 and 2015. Waterford FC have not won the competition since 2013 but have won the provincial trophy 15 times in total. Treaty United will be looking to win the prestigious and history laden trophy for the first time.

Ticket details for the game are listed below.