Enda Curran is happy to do the heavy lifting on and off the pitch as ‘little ol’ Treaty United’ plot an FAI Cup shock for the ages.
Ahead of tomorrow’s semi-final clash with Premier Division heavyweights Derry City, the striker enjoyed a sneak peak behind the scenes at Aviva Stadium.
He had to request a day off from his bosses at T O’Higgins builders suppliers in Shantalla, Galway before travelling up to the capital for yesterday's media event.
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But strolling around the perimeter of the cup final pitch, and exploring the labyrinth of dressing rooms in the bowels of the stadium, gave him a feel for what could be.
It whetted the appetite, not least because the one-time Derry player - under Roddy Collins in 2014 - thought days like these had passed him by having packed in League of Ireland.
Galway man Curran, 30, was playing junior football with Mervue United before Tommy Barrett sounded him out.
But Curran - who has smashed 18 goals so far this season - didn’t jump at the first opportunity to join the new First Division entity and sat out last season.
John Caulfield also wanted him to go full-time at his hometown club Galway United but Curran is into his seventh year working for T O’Higgins.
He loves the physical nature of the work and, at this latter stage of his playing career, had no intention of giving it up.
Curran only came on board with Treaty this year but, considering his goal return and the fact they are playing for an FAI Cup final and league playoff, he’s glad he jumped back in.
Curran said: “Tommy rang and said he’d be as accommodating as he could and I think it shows on the pitch.
“Tommy gives us that leeway to work and it shows when we go out and play. We’re playing for him as a thank you.”
Had things panned out differently, Curran would have played in the 2014 FAI Cup final for Derry City, which they lost to St Pat’s.
Collins brought him to the Brandywell at the start of that season, but it turned into a brief stint as he left when Peter Hutton succeeded Collins in the summer.
Trying to lower Derry’s colours is the objective tomorrow, although nobody gives the Limerick-based First Division outfit a hope.
But that’s all the motivation Curran needs as he looks to build on having scored in every round this season, including a hat-trick against UCD in the quarter-finals.
“Regardless of the teams left, it was going to be an underdog story for us. We’ve upset the applecart before and that’s what we plan on doing again,” he added.
“From the outside, it’s “Little ‘ol Treaty” but we’ve caused many upsets this year and hopefully we can do the same tomorrow.
“We’ve nothing to fear. It’s a shot in the dark for us. We’ve exceeded expectations this year so let’s have a crack at Derry.”
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