Treaty United Player Profiles: Jack Lynch and Mark Walsh

Our concentration up to now has been on defenders and goalkeepers at Treaty United and although our next two players can both play at centre-back or right-back, we believe that the duo’s preferred position is in defensive midfield.

Jack Lynch and Mark Walsh were a cornerstone of the Treaty United team which reached the play-offs in 2021. Both players have varying degrees of experience at Airtricity League level. Walsh was part of the Athlone Town squad in 2012 and played alongside both Sean Guerins and Tommy Barrett. Following his departure from the League of Ireland scene, Walsh played for hometown club Nenagh Celtic in the Tipperary league.

He arrived as an unknown quantity to many and was listed as a defender. However, on his first competitive game for the club against Bray Wanderers last March, he was arguable man of the match in a defensive midfield role. His tenacity and reading of the game provides invaluable protection for his central defenders who dearly value his presence. He shows a lot of composure in the tackle and rarely appears to be a caught out of position or on the wrong side of opponents.

He is a versatile player who filled in for the injured Guerins at centre-back and certainly did not look out of place. Walsh is an old fashioned player who concentrates on winning his individual duel before bringing the creative players into play. He has had a slow pre-season campaign due to injury but did take full part in the game against Killarney Celtic last week. He will be a key player if Treaty are to match last year’s achievements.

Lynch will captain the side for the second consecutive season and much like Walsh, his pre-season has been disrupted through injury but he has returned in time for the beginning. Lynch is the most versatile player in the squad and can play in four different positions. Arguably, he is most capable as a defensive midfielder but he was used as a number ten towards the end of last season. He also played at right-back and centre-back in an eventful play-off march.

Lynch scored five important goals for the club including a brace against UCD and a winner against Athlone Town, both at the Markets Field. He also scored a spectacular volley against the Midlanders in a 1-4 win at Lissywoolen. His late runs into the box became a weapon for Treaty.

He has shown great leadership amongst what was a relatively inexperienced squad last season. In 2020, he was an attacking full-back as Galway United reached the play-offs before losing out to Longford Town. He also won the First Division in 2017 with Waterford FC before a brief spell with Cobh Ramblers in 2018. Lynch also played with Regional United before making a return to Airtricity League football.

His father Tommy Lynch managed both Waterford and Limerick in the League of Ireland and his cousin Lee-J played for Limerick FC between 2014 and 2017.