‘I’ve never seen anything like it'
HARRY KENNY has compared his week to a Hollywood script. But the tale of Bray Wanderers’ season wouldn’t make it past the first read; tossed away for being too outlandish and unbelievable.
The Seagulls boss and his players have had another few days from hell which were slightly alleviated by a solid performance and share of the spoils against Limerick on Friday. It could have been better had Gary McCabe converted a 73rd minute penalty but the welcome distraction of 90 minutes of football was exactly what Kenny and his squad craved.
“Two (points) dropped. Especially missing the penalty – there wasn’t much in the game so when you get a penalty like that and you convert it; you win the game. I thought we created the better chances tonight. Limerick had the bit of possession as well and created a few chances but I enjoyed the game tonight. It was a good end-to-end game. There was plenty of football in it so a decent game but two points dropped.
“We rallied a bit last night after Tuesday night. They’re footballers at the end of the day and they want to be playing football so they just wanted to get out and try to win the game and forget about all the stuff that went on during the week.”
Up to five of Bray’s fixtures are now said to be under investigation for alleged match fixing. This comes on top of the infamous few weeks in July where players were told the money well had dried up and the club then went viral for all the wrong reasons (twice).
“It’s a very difficult season. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life and I’m in the game a long time. I’ve never seen anything like it and I just hope there’s nothing in it because it’d be gut-wrenching if
there was something in it.
“I don’t know which of you’s wrote that (about five games being investigated) but the papers have to write something. When I think back to those games, I don’t see anything in them – anything untoward. I know there was plenty of goals in them, there’s plenty of goals in most of our games this season! There’s nothing new in any of that as far as I’m concerned.
“It was like something out of a movie (when the Gardai showed up) It’s not nice, particularly when the inspector came down and said they were investigating Friday’s game and wanted to interview the lads.
“It’s nonsense. When I heard about it on the Tuesday, I was absolutely sick to my stomach. It’d be a bloody catastrophe if there was anything in it.”
Even though off-field issues are again at the forefront, Kenny has plenty to occupy his mind. In Bray’s last four fixtures, they’ll face each of the top four – plus Galway - so Kenny has many a tactical masterclass to concoct. After these five games though, and when the curtain comes down, Kenny isn’t sure if he’ll be taking to the stage in 2018.
“It’s ideal in the sense that you’re playing the top teams. Every footballer wants to be playing in those sorts of games. If I was playing, I’d want to be playing Dundalk and Derry and Rovers – they’re great games to play in. It is ideal. It’s great, we’re safe at this moment in time I’d like to think so they should be games the lads are looking forward to. I’m certainly looking forward to them.
“I’m always reviewing things. I’ll talk to Denis there if I’m changing my mind or anything like it. It’s hard to take, it’s hard to stomach. We’ll see what happens. I’ll be in touch with the board all week and see what happens.”