Wanderers up to second in table

Bray Wanderers 1 (Brennan 22) St. Patricks Athletic 1 (K.Byrne 46)

Premier Division, Carlisle Grounds, 5 May 2017.

Wanderers moved up to second place in the premier division for only the second time in the club’s history with this point against St. Pat’s. The only previous time Wanderers were as high as second place in the premier division followed a 5-0 home win over Kilkenny City on Good Friday, April 13th 2001.

The home side were well on top in the first half and should have led by more than one goal.

Dylan Connolly headed just wide following a cross from Aaron Greene after five minutes. On eleven minutes, Keith Buckley went down the right and fed Gary McCabe, who set up Ryan Brennan but he put his effort just outside the post, On 24 minutes, Buckley crossed for Brennan to head past O’Malley.

One minute into the second period, Kurtis Byrne picked up a loose ball and fired past Cherrie into the top corner. Shortly afterwards, Connolly raced up the left and crossed low to Greene, who hit the outside of the net with his effort. John Sullivan came close on 55 minutes with a downward header from Buckley’s cross. Shortly after that, an Ian Bermingham corner reached the lively Desmond, but having lost his man he also lost the ball, lofting it over the bar.

Bray were living just a little dangerously, and with under twenty minutes left they were scrambling to clear a close Pats attack. With just minutes remaining Kurtis Byrne broke down the right and squared for Billy Dennehy, but Keith Buckley slide in to block Dennehy’s shot on goal. In added time, Jason Marks received a second yellow card for a foul on Dennehy while Connolly and McCabe were also booked.

Bray Wanderers: 1 Peter Cherrie; 6 Keith Buckley, 4 Conor Kenna, 21 Tim Clancy 23 Jason Marks; 8 Mark Salmon, 3 John Sullivan; 7 Ryan Brennan, 11 Gary McCabe, 16 Dylan Connolly; 9 Aaron Greene Subs: 5 Derek Foran, 10 Karl Moore, 14 Jamie Aherne (for Salmon 87), 17 Ger Pender, 20 Anthony Flood (for Brennan 72), 22 Darragh Noone, 93 Lee Steacy (gk)
St Patricks Athletic: 1 Conor O’Malley; 2 Michael Barker, 13 Rory Feely, 12 Lee Desmond, 3 Ian Bermingham; 10 Sam Verdon, 6 Patrick Cregg; 7 Conan Byrne, 14 Darragh Markey, 18 Kurtis Byrne ; 9 Christy Fagan Subs: 8 Graham Kelly (for Markey 88), 15 Jack Bayly, 16 Barry Murphy (gk), 20 Billy Dennehy (for Fagan 73), 23 Alex O’Hanlon (for Byrne 83), 26 Josh O’Hanlon.

Referee: Ben Connolly

Attendance: 1,287

Report: Michael Duffy