Klub Kildare 3 Bray Wanderers 0
Three second half goals saw Bray fall to their first U17 LOI Academy away defeat in Group B.
The result at Tougher Park on Saturday afternoon – coupled with Shelbourne beating Wexford 1-0 at Ferrycarrig Park; and Waterford defeating CK United at Killeshin – meant that Wanderers chances of a top-two placing also ended.
In the reverse fixture back in April, Kildare won 2-1 at the Woodlands.
Again, their physicality showed as the visitors lined out with no less than eight U16s players in their starting 11.
The Green and White’s weathered a first half storm in a very start stop game, with goalkeeper Alex Kearney kept busy during the early exchanges. That included an onslaught of set pieces into the box which Wanderers defended well.
The breakthrough came early in the second half. Bray failed to clear a corner and following a goal mouth scramble, the ball was put to the net by Vuyo Mosea.
The game then opened up as Wanderers went in search of an equaliser. But were caught on the break twice as Jonny Adedeji and Evan Markey added singles late on.
Bray Wanderers: Alexander Kearney; Jack Nolan, Alain Kizenga, Luke Smith Roddy Cotter; Ronan Dawson; Paddy Kildee-Doolan; Dylan Ryan, Kian Dowling, Phillip Cooney; Max Colbert.
Subs: Aidan Kane, Rhys Knight, Ethan Cheese, Adam Reid, Harry Sherlock, David Winkler.
* Bray’s final group outing is at home to Wexford FC on Saturday May 20 at Ballycorus. A win could be enough to finish third in the section. The team currently occupy that spot but at level on points with Klub Kildare. The Seagulls have a better +1 goal difference. Kildare will play Waterford away that same day.