Dundalk 2 Bray Wanderers 2
It wasn’t to be for Bray as they narrowly missed out on making the Quarter Finals of the U17 EA Sports National Underage League Mark Farren Cup.
Despite taking a 1-0 half time lead on Saturday afternoon in their final Group B tie at Oriel Park, Wanderers had to settle for a share of the spoils with Dundalk.
Having beaten Drogheda United (2-1) but lost 1-0 to Shelbourne, the Green and White’s went in level on points with the Lilywhites who had succumbed 3-0 to Shels but overcome Drogheda 5-0.
The stalemate meant Dundalk finished with a better goal difference of +2 than the young Seagulls to book their place in the last eight of the competition.
It hadn’t looked that way when the away side took a 40th minute lead through Conor O’Gorman.
But the hosts levelled midway through the second period when John Hand for the net.
Just before the end of normal, Hugh Smith put the home club 2-1 in front.
However, seven minutes deep into stoppage time when allowing for injuries, substitute Max Mason popped up with the leveller to make it 2-2.
Elsewhere in the section, Group winners Shelbourne defeated bottom side Drogheda United 2-1 at Head in the Game Park.
Bray Wanderers: Jamie Molloy; Matthew Rose-Anderson, Zach Nolan, Caleb O’Neill, Luke Nolan; Max Hennessey; Paddy Kildee-Doolan, Joshua Kerr; Conor O’Gorman, Daniel Chukwu; Lewis Jacobs.
Subs: Eoghan O’Hanlon, Max Mason, Harry Sherlock, Daniel Lee, Samuel Safaei.
* Bray begin their Phase 2 Tier 2 campaign on Saturday July 9 next. They face a long trip to take on Kerry FC at Mounthawk Park with a 2.00pm kick-off.