Bray Wanderers Match Preview
Sports Direct FAI Cup 2nd Round
Dundalk
Friday August 18, Carlisle Grounds
Kick-off 7.45pm
With a place in the Quarter Finals of the Sports Direct FAI Cup at stake, Bray welcome Premier Division Dundalk to the seaside on Friday.
The Wicklow side have gone out of the competition in the last four years against Premier Division opposition.
But will be looking for a first Cup success since 2015 at the Carlisle Grounds.
“It’s a big game. It’s a big opportunity more so than anything else for us. We want to do well. We’re not there just to make up the numbers” declared Wanderers Head Coach Ian Ryan.
“We want to compete. We want to get through to the next round. It’s as simple as that. We know what we are up against. They are a far superior team at the minute. They are a team that has just played in Europe. We know what we are up against. But we’ll give a go.”
“We’re massive underdogs. The pressure is on Dundalk to win against a First Division team. But we can use that to our advantage. Hopefully, there’s a big crowd, and atmosphere. And we give them something to shout about” started Ryan.
TEAM NEWS
Captain Dave Webster returns after serving a two-match suspension.
Midfielder Harry Groome has recovered from a knock and is expected to be part of the match-day squad.
However, striker Chris Lyons – who missed last week’s game against Cobh – will be assessed in the lead-up to the contest.
Attacker Conor Davis continues to recover from a wrist injury. But is again not expected to feature.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Bray Wanderers and Dundalk have met three times previously in the FAI Cup with each team winning once and one game ending in a draw. Current Bray Head Coach Ian Ryan featured for Dundalk in both of the 2008 meetings.
March 6, 1988. Dundalk 2 Bray Wanderers 0 (5th Round)
Bray went into this game in Oriel Park with a goalkeeping problem as first choice keeper Christy Devlin was suspended while second choice Nicky Brujos was ineligible having lined out for St. James’s Gate in the FAI Intermediate Cup earlier in the season. Youngster Alan O’Sullivan came in for only his fifth appearance for the club. Goals from John Cleary and Paul Newe saw Dundalk advance to the Quarter Finals.
August 15, 2008. Bray Wanderers 0 Dundalk 0 (4th Round)
Wanderers were reduced to ten men in the 59th minute of this fourth-round clash at a rain-swept Carlisle Grounds when Derek Foran was dismissed. Neither goalkeeper had a real save of any note to make during the contest. Bray was a Premier Division team while Dundalk were top of the First Division. The Lilywhites (playing in an all-black strip) were off target with no less than eight of their nine attempts on goal. With their only effort on target, they went close to breaking the deadlock on the quarter hour when David Crawley’s free kick struck the outside of a post.
August 18, 2008. Dundalk 1 Bray Wanderers 3 (4th Round Replay)
A comfortable win in the end for the Seagulls at Oriel Park who had to weather a second-half home recovery. Colm Tresson’s opener on the stroke of half time came at the ideal time for the visitors. The Lilywhites equalised four minutes into the second half, when Paul Crowley headed in a David Crawley corner. Bray restored their lead on 72 minutes when Ger Rowe laid off an Alan Cawley free to Paddy Kavanagh who curled the ball past Chris Bennion from 25-yards. Jake Kelly sealed Bray’s win when he converted for his first senior goal.
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