Galway United 3 Bray Wanderers 0
Despite a competitive first half showing, Bray suffered a second SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division away defeat at Eamonn Deacy Park to Galway this season on Friday.
Runaway league leaders United scored in the last minute of a tight first period before adding two more scores after the interval.
There was three changes to the starting XI for the Seagulls from the side who’d beaten Cockhill Celtic in the FAI Cup last week.
New on-loan goalkeeper Matthew Connor was handed a full debut. Attacker Darren Craven was restored to the starting line-up while midfielder Seán Quinn also came into the team.
On the bench, U19s defender Zach Nolan (who would later make his debut) and winger Daniel Chukwu came in amongst the substitutes.
The hosts went close on 13 minutes with Connor making a fine save to deny Stephen Walsh.
Wanderers first chance of note arrived in the 20th minute. Fed by Ben Feeney, Chris Lyons evaded two tackles in the box before being crowded out on the six-yard line by Colm Horgan.
Just when it seemed the clubs would go in level at the break, the Tribesmen hit the front right on 45 minutes.
A back pass gave away a preventable corner. David Hurley’s flag-kick was punched out by Connor. Conor McCormack cushioned a header for Walsh to hit an acrobatic volley to the net from 12-yards.
The Connacht outfit doubled their lead in the 55th minute.
Walsh found Manning in the ‘D. He tried to bring the ball forward, as did the intervening Ed McCarthy. The ball ricocheted kindly to Walsh who had a simple tap in.
The visitors replied with Cole Omorehiomwan heading Conor Crowley’s 69th minute corner over the crossbar.
The result was confirmed in the 77th minute. As Manning broke, the ball ran kindly into McCarthy’s path. From the left of the box, he squared for Hurley to convert from 15-yards.
Bray skipper Dave Webster prevented a fourth score on 88. He tracked back to clear before the goal-line after sub Wassim Aouachria dinked past Connor.
Galway United: Brendan Clarke; Colm Horgan (Evan O’Connor 86), Robert Slevin, Killian Brouder, Oisin O’Reilly; Vincent Borden (Aodh Dervin 77), Conor McCormack; Edward McCarthy (Francely Lomboto 86), David Hurley, Ronan Manning (Wassim Aouachria 81); Stephen Walsh.
Subs not used: Regan Donelon, Maurice Nugent, Robert Manley, Darren Clarke, Sean Barron
Booked: Manning 15, Chris Collopy (coach) 39.
Bray Wanderers: Matthew Connor; Max Murphy, David Webster, Cole Omorehiomwan, Len O’Sullivan (Zach Nolan 85); Guillermo Almirall (Yoyo Mahdy 85), Sean Quinn (Harry Groome 63), Conor Crowley; Darren Craven; Chris Lyons (Jake Walker 71), Ben Feeney (Callum Thompson 71).
Subs not used: Conor Knight, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Daniel Chukwu, Alex Moody.
Booked: Almirall 33, Quinn 39, Omorehiomwan 62, Lyons 70, Groome 82.
Referee: Paul Norton.