Bray Wanderers Match Preview
Leinster Senior Cup Semi Final
Usher Celtic
Monday April 17, Carlisle Grounds
Kick-off 7.45pm
Bray will attempt to reach the final of the Leinster Senior Cup for the first time in 13 years when the club host Leinster Senior League side Usher Celtic in the last four of the competition on Monday at the Carlisle Grounds.
The Wicklow club have reached the decider of the competition on three previous occasions – 1989, 1990 and 2010.
“When you take a bad result like we did on Friday against Galway United, it’s important to get back on the horse as quickly as possible,” said Head Coach Ian Ryan.
“We have a brilliant game to look forward to on Monday. It’s the Semi Final of a Cup and the chance to get to a final. They don’t come around often. We’ll make sure we get a bit of a reaction and do our best to get ourselves into a final.”
The Seagulls began the competition back in February with a 3-0 away success against New Oak Boys from Carlow at Old Burrin Road with Guillermo Almirall, Ger Shortt and Conor Crowley on the scoresheet.
They followed that in March with a last eight home triumph over Shamrock Rovers at the Carlisle Grounds with Conor Davis and Joe Power on the mark in the 2-1 victory.
Usher Celtic have come through five games to reach the Semi Final and knocked out Premier Division Drogheda United away in the Quarter Final.
Starting off their Leinster Senior Cup campaign in round one with a 7-0 win over VEC in October 2022, they followed that later that month in round two by defeating Sheriff YC 5-1.
They also previously overcame Gorey Rangers (4-2) and Malahide United (3-2) after extra time to reach the last eight.
TEAM NEWS
Midfielder Conor Crowley (broken metatarsal) is side-lined for six-eight weeks.
They are fitness doubts over both Eoin Farrell and Joe Power
However, skipper Dave Webster and midfielder Darren Craven both could feature. The duo came off the bench as second half substitutes in Friday’s league game away to Galway United.