| BRAY WANDERERS | 0-2 | UCD |
| Colm Whelan 68 | ||
| Paul Doyle 87 |
Promotion Playoff Final
Dalymount Park
19 November 2021
Second half goals from Irish under 21 striker Colm Whelan and Paul Doyle condemned Bray Wanderers to First division football for another season.
Wanderers were without the suspended duo of Conor Clifford and Callum Thompson as well as the injured Gary Shaw. Luka Lovic started in place of Clifford in the only change to the starting team from the one that defeated Galway United in the last play-off game.
UCD started on top with Jack Keaney and Liam Kerrigan having efforts on goal that failed to trouble Brian Maher. Bray then came into the game and Brandon Kavanagh latched onto a Brian Maher kick-out, but his shot was blocked by Evan Osam. Wanderers had a let off on 38 minutes when Dara Keane pulled the ball back to Colm Whelan who fired a shot off the post.
The second half was a much livelier affair with both sides attacking. Joe Doyle had a header easily saved by Healy. UCD had a great chance when Whelan got in on the right and Maher was forced to save with his feet from an acute angle. Joe Doyle went close for Bray with a curled effort which went narrowly wide. The students broke the deadlock on 68 minutes when Andrew Quinn was adjudged to have fouled Whelan just outside the area. Whelan fired the resulting free around the ball to give Maher no chance.
Five minutes from time the ball fell to Richie O’Farrell on the edge of the area, but his shot went inches wide of the post. Three minutes from time UCD sealed the win. Whelan played the ball into the path of Paul Doyle, who fired into the far corner of the net.
Bray Wanderers: 1 Brian Maher; 8 Mark Byrne, 4 Andrew Quinn, 5 Aaron Barry, 3 Dylan Barnett; 14 Richie O’Farrell, 17 Luka Lovic; 7 Ryan Graydon, 11 Brandon Kavanagh, 16 Darren Craven; 9 Joe Doyle
Subs: 15 Daniel Jones, 18 Sean Callan, 19 Darragh Lynch, 20 Ryan Bowden, 22 Steven Kinsella (for Lovic 80), 23 Sam Hayden, 25 Kian Clarke (gk), 28 Sam Verdon (for Craven 75), 30 Jack Ross (gk)
Booked: Barry (22), Graydon (89)
UCD: 1 Lorcan Healy; 2 Michael Gallagher, 24 Harvey O’Brien, 22 Sam Todd, 3 Evan Osam; 6 Jack Keaney (c); 27 Sean Brennan, 17 Dara Keane, 21 Paul Doyle; 7 Liam Kerrigan; 10 Colm Whelan
Subs: 5 Luke Boore, 8 Mark Dignam (for Keane 91+), 11 Ciaran Behan, 12 Adam Lennon, 14 Eoin Farrell, 15 Adam Verdon (for Doyle 91+), 16 Carl Williams (gk), 19 Lennon Gill, 30 Evan Caffrey
Booked: Todd (15), Doyle (58), Whelan (70), Kerrigan (89)
Referee: Oliver Moran
Match report: Michael Duffy
Photos: Peter Minogue
