Bray Wanderers 5 Drogheda United 0
A dominant display saw Bray deservedly secure their first EA Sports M15 LOA Academy Group B win of the season.
Two goals in each of the first and third periods set up the decisive 5-0 victory over Drogheda at Ballycorus on Sunday afternoon.
Fresh from his U15 Republic of Ireland exploits, striker Billy O’Neill notched a double.
Winger Adam Keene almost claimed a brace while substitute Cristiano Bramley sealed the success with a fifth score late on.
It was the perfect response to the 5-1 away loss to Shamrock Rovers. It was also the Louth club’s first defeat after they had drawn 2-2 away with Klub Kildare.
With 15 minutes on the clock, the young Seagulls hit the front. Jake Fulton’s
in-swinging corner from the right left-footed saw O’Neill beat two team-mates at the back post to force the ball in right on the goal-line.
Then two minutes before the end of the 30-minute period, James Seberry’s free from the right left-footed was parried by Jordan Collins. But Keene followed up to convert the rebound.
After three goals in his two games wearing the Green jersey against Wales midweek at the Carlisle Grounds, O’Neill plundered another eight minutes into the second period.
Fouled in the box, the forward picked himself up to slot in the penalty.
It became 4-0 in the 65th minute. Twice crosses came in from the left flank. Twice the United defence cleared. But the ball came to Keene just inside the box who controlled and then fired a superb 16-yard half volley to net.
With seven minutes of normal time remaining, Bramley fed Seberry whose clever flicked played in the substitute. Turning on the run, Bramley drove in low at the near post from 15-yards.
Bray Wanderers: Liam Billings; Joshua O’Leary, Max Free, Noah Byrne,
Evan Lynch; Jake Fulton, Sean Howard; Adam Keene, Darragh Sherlock, James Seberry; Billy O’Neill.
Subs: Callum Kenna, Cristiano Bramley, Sean Hennelly, Tadhg Worthington, Aidan Kane, Ethan Cheese, Alex Forde.
Drogheda United: Jordan Collins; Luke Woods; Alex Quigley, Robert Johnson; Luke Smith, Tadhg McEvoy, Ryan Gilchrist; Jamie O’Brien, Dara Brennan; Jonathan Salako, Matthew McCloskey
Subs: Leon Hudson, Yanisse Lourenco, Conor Sheehan, Redouane Moussa, Dylan Williams, Brandon Gough-Smith
Referee: Shane Roche (Wicklow). 