Doyle strike seals win over Wexford

Wexford FC 0 Bray Wanderers 1 (Doyle 43)

Ferrycarrig Park, First Division, 21 May 2021

Brandon Kavanagh breaks free

Joe Doyle’s strike two minutes before the interval settled this tight game in favour of Wanderers who recorded their third league win in a row.

Wanderers made one change to the starting line up from the team that defeated Cabinteely FC last week with Steven Kinsella starting in place of Luka Lovic.

The home side had the first chance of the game on seven minutes. Kyle Robinson did well down the left and got a shot on goal which Maher saved comfortably. Wanderers responded and Richie O’Keeffe’s shot from the edge of the area was deflected out for a corner on twelve minutes.

Ryan Graydon got in on the left on 22 minutes and his chip was met by a Joe Doyle header which forced Corcoran into a save.  Doyle had the next chance when he turned on the edge of the area, but his snapshot was straight at the keeper. O’Farrell’s cross from the left just missed the head of Doyle but was met by Kinsella at the back post on 41 minutes but he shot over the bar when well placed.

Wanderers struck two minutes before the break. Brandon Kavanagh picked up a loose ball on the right and found Doyle just inside the area. The striker controlled the ball and finished neatly to the top corner of the net.

Brian Maher punches clear

Wanderers survived a goalmouth scramble on 53 minutes in a second half that was void of any goal chances.

Wexford FC: 1 Jimmy Corcoran, 2 Paul Cleary, 5 James Carroll, 6 Jack Connolly, 7 Conor Crowley, 8 Karl Manahan, 9 Karl Fitzsimons, 10 Jack Doherty, 11 Paul Fox, 17 Kyle Robinson, 23 Luke Turner.

Substitutes: 3 Alex O’Hanlon, 18 Sean Martin, 12 Jack Larkin, 13 Success Edogun (for Robinson, 74), 15 Kevin McEvoy, 16 Charlie Smith, 19 Evan Farrell (for Manahan, 74), 21 Harry Groome (for Connolly, 84), 29 Lorcan Fitzgerald (for Fitzsimons, 60)

Booked: Carroll (58), Crowley (75), Groome (90).

Bray Wanderers: 1 Brian Maher, 3 Dylan Barnett, 4 Andrew Quinn, 5 Aaron Barry, 6 Conor Clifford, 7 Ryan Graydon, 8 Mark Byrne, 9 Joe Doyle, 11 Brandon Kavanagh, 14 Richie O’Farrell, 22 Steven Kinsella.

Wanderers under pressure

Substitutes: 10 Gary Shaw (for Kinsella, 56), 12 Dean O’Shea, 16 Darren Craven (for Kavanagh, 72), 17 Luka Lovic (for Graydon, 72), 23 Glen Hollywood, 24 Cian Maher, 25 Kian Clarke (Gk), 30 Jack Ross (Gk)

Booked: Clifford (23), O’Farrell (68)

Match Report: Michael Duffy

Pictures: Peter Minogue

Steven Kinsella in action