McCann strike seals win over Shelbourne

Andrew Moran in control

Shelbourne 0 Bray Wanderers 1
Tolka Park, Friendly, 7 February 2020
Brandon McCann’s deflected strike earned Wanderers their first pre-season win of the season over premier division opposition with this narrow win over Shelbourne.

Joe Doyle’s attempted lob from the right wing went just over the bar in the eighth minute. Dayle Rooney cut in from the right in the 18th minute but his shot was easily saved by Adam Hayden. Minutes later, ex-Wanderer Ryan Brennan’s free header went wide.

Shels were on top in the early stages but Wanderers responded with a good spell from the half hour mark. New signing from Bohemians, Ryan Graydon got in on the right and forced Brady into a save. Ryan Brennan then headed wide from a Rooney corner. Joe Doyle headed just wide at the back post from a left-wing cross. Shelbourne almost grabbed the lead three minutes before the break. Rooney’s cross from the left was just missed by a Shelbourne player at the near post and Derek Daly had to clear at the back post.

Wanderers took the lead on 58 minutes. Brandon McCann picked up the ball just outside the area and his goal bound shot took a deflection to deceive Brady and ended up in the net. Adam Hayden had to be at his best to tip over a Rooney free kick on 69 minutes.

 

Shelbourne increased the pressure in the closing stages, but Bray’s rear guard held firm. Three minutes from time, Luke Nolan’s cross from the right was met by Glen Hollywood at the back post and his header came back off the post. Shelbourne had one final chance in the last minute. Hofmann was booked for a foul on the edge of the area. From the resulting free kick, George Poynton’s shot went just over the bar.

Goal Celebrations

Shelbourne: Jack Brady; Daniel O’Reilly, Aidan Friel, Luke Byrne; Dayle Rooney, Sean Quinn, Alex O’Hanlon, Gary Deegan, Ryan Brennan; Aaron Dobbs, Karl Sheppard.
Subs: George Poynton (for Quinn, 57), Ciaran Kilduff (for Dobbs, 62), Jaze Kabia (for Sheppard 70). Karl Moore, Alex Cetiner, Daniel McKenna, Colm Cox.

Bray Wanderers: 1 Adam Hayden, 2 John Ross Wilson, 5 Aaron Barry, 6 Paul Keegan, 7 Ryan Graydon, 9 Joe Doyle, 11 Derek Daly, 19 Brandon McCann, 20 Gary Shaw, 21 Andrew Moran, 26 Lee Kavanagh.
Subs:14 Tristan Noack Hofmann (for Barry, 80), 16 Enda Minogue (gk), 22 Luke Nolan (for Kavanagh, 70), 23 Darragh Lynch (for Shaw, 80), 24 Glen Hollywood (for Graydon, 70), 25 Dean O’Shea (for McCann, 80), 27 Conor Behan (for Moran, 70),

Match Report: Michael Duffy

Pictures: Peter Minogue and Vincent Kirwan