*Jack Lynch celebrates for Treaty Utd. Photograph: Joe Buckley
CLARE DUO, JACK Lynch and Joe Collins have confirmed their departures from Treaty Utd.
Both Lynch and Collins are exiting the League of Ireland First Division club as they prepare to emigrate to Australia and Barcelona respectively.
With a place in the history books of Treaty Utd already secured as the club’s first ever captain of the senior men’s side, Shannon’s Lynch has proven to be a fan’s favourite at Market’s Field. He was a member of the original 26 man squad in 2021 after signing from Galway Utd.
During his time at Treaty, Jack made 49 appearances, scoring seven goals and making three assists. His unbelievable strike from the halfway line at home to Athlone Town in June of this year saw him pick up the SSE Airtricity League Goal of the Month award. Jack was also joint-recipient of the Treaty United Fans’ player of the month award for July 2021.
Ennis native Collins also signed from Galway Utd at the beginning of the 2021 season. He made 44 appearances which included two assists and scoring one memorable goal that saw Treaty United defeat Cork City at Turners Cross in July of 2021.
A two-time Oscar Traynor medallist, Joe featured for Galway District League Premier Division side West United prior to first appearing in the League of Ireland. Prior to this, he lined out at a local level for Ennis Town FC.
Over the weekend, Waterford FC defeated Treaty to advance to the First Division promotion play-off semi-final after a 3-3 draw with Treaty United, which saw them progress 7-4 on aggregate. Lining out alongside Collins and Lynch for this encounter were Newmarket-on-Fergus duo Callum McNamara and Lee Devitt.
Treaty Utd manager, Tommy Barrett paid tribute to the departing duo. “We’d like to wish the boys that are leaving [the best of luck], the likes of Jack Lynch is going off travelling, he’s going to Australia. He’s been an excellent captain, local lad, he’s been fantastic for two seasons. As I said, I thought he was brilliant there tonight. Joe Collins is going off as well, he’s going off to Barcelona. Joe has been fantastic the last two seasons. He was brilliant tonight, Joe is a great lad and first and foremost they’re lovely people, both gentlemen”.
In a statement, Jack said his time with Treaty was the “best two years of my footballing career and whatever comes next they’ll be tough to beat”. He said, “An opportunity to travel to Australia was not one that I could turn down, and so I won’t be resigning with the club next year”.
“It was a privilege to captain this club for the past two seasons, and I hope that this isn’t a goodbye, and that it us just a see you later,” the St Patrick’s Comprehensive School past pupil said.
He concluded by acknowledging the efforts of all involved in bringing senior soccer back to the Mid-West. “Thank you to all of the staff and board members that worked tirelessly to bring back senior soccer to the region. I hope that over the past two years the performances on the pitch were some sort of repayment to the four that went into to bring Treaty to life. To the coaching staff and players that have been associated with the club over the last two seasons, you were all a part of something very special – from a play-off run in our first two season, to an FAI Cup semi final in our second; you are a credit to yourselves and I’m very lucky to have shared a dressing room with ye. Lastly to the fans, I hope out performances on the pitch were some sort of repayment to the commitment ye showed us. It was a privilege to play in front of ye every week, and thank you for following us no matter where we went”.
