Bray Wanderers 1
Shelbourne 4
Andrew Dempsey reports from the Carlisle Grounds
SHELBOURNE COPPER-FASTENED their title charge as they easily swatted aside the challenge of Bray Wanderers on a 4-1 scoreline at the Carlisle Grounds.
A Ryan Brennan brace set Ian Morris charges on their way to a landmark win along with goals from Michael O’Connor and Ally Gilchrist. Conor Clifford’s first-half equaliser proved to be a mere consolation for the hosts who were soundly beaten at home.
The Reds came into the game five points clear at the top of the table – and 10 points clear of Bray – but they made one change from their comprehensive 4-0 over Galway prior to the mid-season break.
And it was Shels who started the better of the two, with Ryan Brennan forcing a good, smart save from Ireland U21 keeper Brian Maher in the fifth minute. However, that wait for a Shelbourne opener would not be long, as Michael O’Connor scored in the 11th minute from the spot.
The ex-Waterford forward saw his penalty creep under the palms of Maher after Aaron Barry fouled Shane Farrell in the box, leading to the youngster’s early withdrawal.
The Seagulls, awoken from their early slumber, levelled shortly after – after Michael Barker was adjudged to have clumsily fouled his opposite number in the Bray attack, with Conor Clifford slotting home from the spot himself.
As Bray pressed for a first-half lead, their inability to score cost them – with Shelbourne retaking the lead in the 39 th minute through Ryan Brennan’s eighth goal of the season.
The 29-year-old headed home at the back post after a knock-down from Kevin O’Connor as the Reds took a 2-1 lead into the break.
And despite impressing in the early stages of the second-half, the hosts were sucker-punched again just past the hour mark as Brennan grabbed his second of the night from the spot after a good spell of Bray pressure.
Ally Gilchrist then added insult to injury late on with a goal in the 87th minute, as he poked home from Georgie Poynton’s corner, leaving Bray 13 points behind Shels after just 11 games played.
Meanwhile, a Jake Hegarty double saw Cobh Ramblers record a 2-1 win at UCD, while Cabinteely were 2-0 winners away to Cork City.
Treaty United came from 1-0 down to record their first away win of the season, winning 2-1 at Wexford Youths, while an injury-time Padraic Cunningham goal saw Galway United beat Athlone Town 2-1 at Eamonn Deacy Park.
Bray Wanderers: Brian Maher; Andrew Quinn, Richie O’Farrell, Aaron Barry (c), Dylan Barnett; Brandon Kavanagh, Ryan Graydon (Luka Lovic 75), Conor Clifford, Mark Byrne; Gary Shaw (Joe Doyle 62), Darren Craven (Steven Kinsella 75).
Shelbourne: Brendan Clarke; John Ross Wilson, Kevin O’Connor, Ally Gilchrist, Luke Byrne (c); Dayle Rooney, George Poynton, JJ Lunney, Shane Farrell (Michael Barker 12), Ryan Brennan (Brian McManus 80); Michael O’Connor.
Referee: Alan Patchell.
The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud
Bernard Jackman and Murray Kinsella assess Leinster, Munster, Ulster and Connacht’s campaigns and answer loads of listener questions as the 2020/21 provincial season draws to a close.
Great result – horrible game
Agreed; all that spitting and shouting at the ref, never mind the tribalistic thuggery it engenders internationally.
A lot to be said for oval shaped balls.
And as is evident here you will often find a cock on the end of them
This is qualified success in a worldwide sport, not reaching the quarter finals of a sport played by 10 teams… Genuine achievement by an extremely mediocre side. Possibly the worst Irish side in my life, but much more commendable than coming out of a group they were expected to come out of(like the oval-balled lads) and then losing to a side they should beat. These boys have a massive task in front of them now. If they can pick up some points it’ll be a result. And if they do a Greece, yourself and the D4 crowd will probably be first on the bandwagon. I’ve been on it years though and there’s plenty of room whenever you’re ready.
99.999% Qualified which is a great achievement for the material that Trap has. Europe is more difficult to qualify for than the World cup well done to the team. It will give the country something to look forward to next summer the kind of buzz that an oval ball would never give to such a wide section of the population.
Worst Irish side in your life?! what age are you, 2? This is easily the best Irish side in 10 years, possibly on a par with the ’02 team. Its the tactics that make the team look bad.
Oh please,no more oval ball shennanigans,please.
Great achievement overall to qualify and well done to the lads but Ireland’s style looked like that of a second rate Jack Charlton’s tonight for much of the time, belting high balls at and into Walters, who did very well. If only we had a player who could put his foot on the ball in the centre of the park and spray the odd decent pass. The result is obviously the most important thing but we are just not an enjoyable team to watch at present and the players to me seem to be stifled, mainly by Trap’s tactics.
A win is a win no matter what you can watch any match and get a bad game but when it your team and you win it’s a great feeling and I hope it’s lift us all out of this recession come on Ireland
“international football has never been more open. As a result ……teams like Greece actually winning etc. “. That’s incredible , Greece were the most defensive team ever to win a championship. Their games were like watching chess in slow motion. Some sports reporters give you the impression they have never done more than read each others articles.
I think it’s fairly obvious he means ‘open’ in the sense of ‘there for the taking’, as opposed to an open style of play.
Tens of thousands of paddies boarding flights to Poland next Summer- whoda thunk it?
I could almost hear Michael O’Leary hiking up prices at the end of the game.
Did anyone else notice the flag the Estonian supporters were flying last night? It was the Union Jack, with the Three Lions crest of England, but in the Estonian colours. What was that all about?
Did wonder about the union Jack alright. Weird!
great article,spot on!
No no Alan,that s only when all the normal priced flights to Poland are sold that Michael will raise the prices,do u know so all the rest of us can have the chance to buy tickets at €400 odd euro