Dundalk 1 Bray Wanderers 0
Premier Division, Oriel Park, 13 October 2017.
Bray Wanderers six league game unbeaten run came to an end three minutes from time when Michael Duffy scored against a Wanderers team who played with ten men for the final half hour.
Neither keeper was tested too much in the opening half. The closest effort to goal came on 39 minutes when Ubaezuono picked out the inrushing O’Connor who chested the ball off the Bray post. Ex-Wanderer, Chris Shields tested Cherrie with a number of long range efforts in the early stages of the second half but the former Dundalk league winner was in top form.
The game heated up on the hour mark. Grimes received a yellow card for a challenge on Brennan. Brennan then received a yellow a minute later for a push on Grimes. Brennan then received a yellow for dissent against referee Sean Grant.
Cherrie saved McMillan’s effort in the 76th minute and then Benson pulled an effort just wide of the post following a run down the left by Duffy. With just three minutes remaining, Gary McCabe lost possession as he was breaking free. Jamie McGrath fed Duffy on the left and he fired home under Cherrie to keep alive Dundalk’s slim hopes of retaining the title.
Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Seán Hoare, Shane Grimes; Jake O’Connor, Chris Shields; Michael Duffy, Jamie McGrath, Carlton Ubaezuonu; David McMillan. Subs: Cian Flynn, Robbie Benson (for Ubaezuonu 55), Gabriel Sava (gk), James Woods, Dean Watters, Eric Whelan, Jack O’Keeffe (for O’Connor 68)
Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Keith Buckley, Hugh Douglas, Conor Kenna, Karl Moore, Darragh Noone; John Sullivan, Ryan Brennan, Gary McCabe, Jason Marks; Aaron Greene. Subs (not used): Derek Foran, Ger Pender, Mark Salmon, Luke Rossiter, Anto Flood, Kalvin Rogers, Lee Steacy.
Referee: Sean Grant
Match report: Michael Duffy