Little Bray collect their first Premier points

LITTLE BRAY picked up their first three points of the Premier Division this week in 1993 following a very impressive victory over Rathnew at the Horse Park.

‘Considering that the homesters had been beaten just once in the league prior to this game, Little Bray’s victory was quite outstanding,’ wrote the reporter of the day in the Wicklow and Bray People newspaper. ‘Although Rathnew played better than the score suggests, there was no doubting the Bray team’s superiority.

‘United began as if they meant business, taking the game by the scruff of the neck in the opening half. They eventually broke the deadlock after 25 minutes with a picture goal from new signing Chris ‘Kit’ O’Neill.

The ex-Glenview man combined superbly with Kieran ‘Tarzan’ O’Brien before shooting home from 15 yards. O’Brien then added a second just five minutes before half-time, picking up a long ball from Jim Devlin and firing a 30yard rocket to the net.

‘Having brought on Eamonn Franey at half-time, Rathnew did mount something of a fightback in the second half. PJ O’Connor had two great chances to pull one back, but there was no way past Little Bray’s excellent goalkeeper Gary Snow.

‘The visitors then put the result beyond all doubt in the 55th minute when Kevin Farrell took a short corner, playing the ball to the unmarked O’Neill whose splendid cross was headed powerfully to the net by Billy Treacy.

‘This was a great team display by Little Bray who must be considered serious championship contenders despite their relatively poor start. Franey and Mark Doyle were the leading lights for the homesters.

Rathnew: Derek Hollingsworth, ‘Snowy’ Douglas, Chris Duffy, Nigel Manley, Paul Douglas, Eamonn Delaney, Ciaran Snell, Mark Doyle, Peter White, PJ O’Connor, Robert Doyle. Subs: Alan Newsome, Eamonn Franey.

Little Bray United: Gary Snow, Jim Devlin, Darren Keating, Stephen Martin, Eddie McCann, Bill Treacy, Chris ‘Kit’ O’Neill, Kevin Farrell, Shay Lowe, Kieran ‘Tarzan’ O’Brien, Chris Martin. Subs: Des Kelly, Paul Williamson.